ISLAMABAD, June 9: Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani on Friday rejected the opposition members’ criticism on budget as uncalled for and said they were presenting wrong figures in parliament.

Talking to reporters in the Parliament House, he said the people in the opposition, who have a feudal thinking, do not see anything positive in the budget which was prepared to cater to the needs of Pakistani people.

He said a number of incentives have been announced in the budget and soon its benefits would start to trickle down. The opposition, he said, should acknowledge the fact.

By giving wrong budgetary figures, he added, the opposition was trying to mislead public and vowed that the government was determined to work for the welfare of the masses.

He said that the present government should be given the credit for taking a number of steps for the development of media in the country. A number of new initiatives were being launched for the future role of media while maintaining its freedom, he added.

Mr Durrani said that on Friday he gave a detailed briefing to the president and the prime minister on the existing and future role of media.

The minister said he appreciated the measures taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the freedom of press.

He said that the president had approved all proposals forwarded by the ministry of information for the welfare and development of media people.

He said various steps were being taken for the development of Radio Pakistan, PTV, APP and Press Information Department.

He said setting up of new FM radio stations and a media university, to train journalists, had also been approved by the government.—APP