ISLAMABAD, June 8: Opposition parties denounced what they called “rich man’s budget” on Wednesday when the Senate began debate on the federal budget for fiscal 2005-06. Opposition leader Raza Rabbani, while opening the debate, said the budget reflected the government’s political philosophy to protect the interests of the rich and big business. He was joined by four other opposition senators who also accused the government of following policies harmful to the common man and smaller provinces.
Senator Nisar Ahmed Memon, one of only two ruling coalition members who participated in the debate, put up a strong defence for what he called a balanced and development-oriented budget. The upper house’s evening sitting was chaired by PML’s Khalid Ranjah as Mohammedmian Soomro was attending the National Security Council meeting.
The Senate will make only recommendations on the budgetary proposals that may or may not be accepted by the National Assembly. Under the constitution the upper house does not have powers to change or modify money bills, budget etc.
Mr Rabbani accused the government of completely excluding “the people of Pakistan and the creators of national wealth from its ideology” which, he said, was “to enrich, protect and strengthen the grip of unscrupulous few” of big businesses.
He said the government had created “two Pakistans” — one of luxury and wasteful expenditure of the elite seen in Islamabad and the other where the poor did not have even basic necessities of life and their children were dying of gastroenteritis.
Mr Rabbani described as trivial increases of 10-15 per cent in pay and pensions of government employees. He criticised increases in the defence budget.
One of the severest opposition criticisms was on the government’s failure to announce the National Finance Commission (NFC) award for the third year running. Mr Rabbani called it a deliberate move with malafide intention to maintain extravagance of the federal government.
