June 19, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 18: Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday expressed serious concern over an unprecedented hike in prices of food items, and called for giving incentives and relief to middle class and lower income groups.

Taking part in the budget debate, the lawmakers said that organic farming should be promoted as a means to boost agricultural produce and to check price hike and food shortage. They also observed that sales tax on ghee, oil and other items should be brought down to give badly-needed relief to the people.

Mrs Khalida Mansoor said the government should promote organic farming as it would enable the country to produce natural varieties of potato, tomato and onion and there would be no need for import.

She said that 15 per cent sales tax on ghee and oil should be brought down to five per cent.

Mr Rai Mujtaba Kharal appreciated proposals for developing the farm sector and hoped that these steps would help boost agricultural production and improve socio-economic conditions of the people.

Mr Sajid Ahmed urged the government to withdraw taxes on edible items to bring down their prices. He stressed the need for increasing allocation for the education sector.

Mr Sumsam Ali Shah Bukhari stressed the need for strengthening agricultural sector for self-reliance in food production.

Ms Fauzia Wahab called upon the government to devise a strategy to check hoardings by various cartels responsible for the sharp rise in prices of food items.

Mr Raja Muhammad Assad criticised economic and privatisation policies of the PML-Q government and sought accountability of all those who were responsible for the common man’s misery. He suggested expediting exploration of minerals in hilly areas to promote this sector.

OTHER ISSUES: Mr Liaquat Ali praised the government for presenting the defence budget for discussion in the National Assembly for the first time. He said the population planning should be re-organised to control rapidly growing population. He urged the government to pay special attention to development of southern Punjab.

Mufti Ajmal Khan said the government should pay attention to resolution of problems in Karak district, including provision of water and construction of two grid stations.

Ms Nighat Parveen Mir proposed an increase in profits in National Savings schemes to benefit lower income people. She demanded adequate funds for development of Jhelum district, especially provision of clean drinking water.

Mr Ramesh Lal praised the government decision to double development funds for minorities. He said that loans in flood-affected areas of Larkana, Shahdadkot and Dadu districts should be written off.

Shahnaz Saleem said funds for the presidency should be halved and the money thus saved should be spent on the people who had sold their kidneys or their children because of poverty. Mir Ahmadan Khan Bugti urged the government to ensure judicious distribution of resources and provision of sufficient funds for Balochistan.

He called for upgradation of a hospital in Dera Bugti, reinstatement of terminated employees of Sui gas field and compensation for all those killed in bomb blasts in Sui area.