June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

ATTOCK, June 21: People from different walks of life, including local political figures, have given a mixed reaction to the federal budget 2007-08 —the opposition bitterly criticising it as “anti-poor” and the government defending it.

PPP leader and former member Punjab bar council Sheikh Ahsanuddin rejected the claims of the rulers and described the budget being without any “real relief” for the common man, while the government side called it an awami (public- friendly) budget.

Ahsanuddin termed the budget “highly disappointing,” especially for the lower strata of society since it did not offer any respite from high prices of essential commodities or skyrocketing utility bills, particularly electricity.

So claims that it would give relief to the common man, were wrong as it would benefit only the rich. Claims of poverty reduction were also false, he regretted.

As has been the practice of this regime, mini-budgets will continue to haunt the people every month in the form of price increases in petroleum, gas and electricity, he feared.

He called the budget presentation a “political speech” that had failed to explain the real situation and provide genuine relief to the public.

Vital issues like inflation, rationing, trade finance deficit, details of loan borrowings from domestic and international financial institutions, income obtained through privatisation, aid received for the Oct 8, 2005 earthquake rehabilitation and funds received in for the so-called “war against terror” were either completely ignored or misreported in the budget, he disclosed.

The 15 per cent price hike allowance for government employees was absolutely useless against the high food inflation rate and it belied public claims of the president and prime minister that salaries would be increased by 30-35 per cent.

He expressed shock that there were no significant reforms and schemes for people working in the private sector.