June 11, 2005	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1426

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, June 10: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has asked the government to draw pensions of retired military officials from the defence budget, as it was the practice a few years ago.

The demand was made by the MQM MNAs and senators in their joint proposals submitted to the government to incorporate it in the Federal Budget 2005-06.

The MQM parliamentarians, in their proposals, suggested that pensions of the retired military officials should not be paid from the civil budget and the amount thus saved should be spent to provide relief to the common people.

The MQM, which is a coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) at the centre and Sindh province, has submitted 34 proposals to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz with a hope that these would be given serious consideration to make the budget a balanced one.

The MQM legislators expressed their surprise over increase in the defence budget at a time when the Kashmir Issue was heading towards resolution of the problem.

They said the defence budget should be curtailed and more amount should be sent on education and health sectors for the betterment of people.

The MQM members are of the view that the common man is not getting any relief from the economic progress made by the country because provinces do not have complete autonomy. They suggest that provinces should be given complete economic autonomy.

They called for initiating land reforms in the country, which they said was a must for the betterment of agriculture sector.

They proposed that like oil prices uniformed electricity rates should be applicable all over the country.

They proposed that there should be an end to the scrutiny of five per cent income taxpayers to develop trust between the traders and the government.

Following are other proposals:

The Wapda and Karachi Electric Supply Company should get minimum and fixed charges from commercial consumers only if it can ensure uninterrupted power supply.

The government should provide subsidy on flour, sugar and milk so that people can get flour at the rate of Rs10 per kg while sugar and milk should not be more than Rs18 per kg.

Import duty should be abolished from vegetables and all unnecessary taxes should be abolished from the utility bills.

Plea bargain system should be introduced in the House Building Finance Corporation and interest on principal amount should be waived off to provide relief to a large number of defaulters.

Prices of CNG kits for small cars should be brought down and petrol prices should be reviewed and prices of CNG and LPG should be reduced.

All agricultural tools should be declared tax-free and steps should be taken to set up agro-based industry in villages.

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)