LAHORE, June 24: Economist Shakila Zaheer has said the federal budget is a good effort in the given circumstances.

Speaking at a budget seminar organized by the Millat Party’s women wing here on Monday, she said local as well as foreign investors remained shy of investment and stock exchanges crashed during the last six months because of the volatile border situation due to which the economy could not take the badly needed jump-start.

MP vice-president Sumera Malik urged the government to withdraw the general sales tax on cooking oils and vegetable ghee, saying the step would add to the miseries of the poor.

Disputing the government’s claim of arresting inflation, she said it had gone up by four percent due to ever-increasing petroleum prices.

Women wing leader Neelo Afzal hoped the government would refrain from the past practice of presenting mini-budgets and would take steps to cut its administrative expenses.