ISLAMABAD, June 9: People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MNA Syed Naveed Qamar has said the federal budget 2003-4 shows that the government wants to eliminate the poor instead of poverty.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Mr Qamar said that the budget lacked substance.

The PPP leader said that the agriculture was the backbone of the economy but the government had not given any attention to it. “They have been talking of the agriculture for the last two days but without logic. They have not given any relief to the sector,” he added.

The government had not announced any relief for the small farmers and did not take steps to reduce prices of fertilisers, he said.

Mr Qamar said the government had provided relief to the rich by reducing duty on cars over 1800cc and ignored the poor people of the society.

He contested the finance minister’s claim that loans and borrowings had been reduced.

“The minister has himself said that Rs170 billion would be borrowed this year which means Rs500 million each day,” Mr Qamar said.

The People’s Party Parliamentarians MNA expressed his surprise at the 5.1 per cent growth rate, saying: “Only two weeks back it was put at 4.5 per cent by the finance minister. How it jumped up in such a short span of time?”

The PPP leader appreciated 30 per cent increase in development budget, but said: “Announcing funds is something else and disbursing them is something different.”

He said the finance minister had himself admitted the inefficiency of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), which was being run by an armyman.

He said there should have been a 30 per cent raise in salaries and pensions of the government employees keeping in view the inflation and price-hike.

He said increase in defence budget could not be justified as the tension on borders was no longer there.