ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday witnessed a one-on-one debate between Finance Minister Asad Umar and Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif over economic indicators, with both sides questioning each other’s sincerity with the country’s development and challenging their figures.

The two sides also accused each other of making the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project controversial for what they called achieving political designs.

Opening a general debate on the mini-budget presented by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government last week in the assembly which met after a five-day recess, Mr Sharif criticised the rulers for “presenting an anti-people budget”.

Before coming to the budget, Mr Sharif alleged that the present government was a product of rigged elections. “We have not come here to legitimise non-transparent elections. We are here for promotion and continuity of democracy,” he said while welcoming the government’s move to constitute a parliamentary committee to probe charges of rigging in the July 25 general elections.

“They [rulers] raised slogans of Naya Pakistan and promised to establish merit. They had claimed that they would bring the best team, whether it’s their opening batsman or a spin bowler. Today we see personal friends, servants and imported advisers everywhere,” Mr Sharif added.

PML-N president lashes out at government for allowing tax non-filers to purchase vehicles and properties; Asad Umar says he will reconsider decision

He lashed out at the government for increasing gas prices, imposing indirect taxes, slashing the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and reversing the steps taken by the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for expanding tax base in the country.

In his nearly hour-long speech, Mr Sharif highlighted the achievements of the PML-N government which, he said, had inherited huge crises, including massive power loadshedding and terrorism, whereas the present rulers had not inherited any big challenges.

The PML-N president said the previous government had successfully overcome the energy crisis and today the country had surplus electricity. Similarly, he said, under the leadership of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, they had effectively met the challenge of terrorism and today due to the sacrifices of the armed forces and police, terrorism had almost ended in the country.

The PML-N chief claimed that the previous government had not increased gas prices for the poor during its five-year term and it had provided huge subsidies on electricity and gas to the farmers. “Politely but firmly on behalf of the Pakistani people and all the opposition members, I request you to withdraw this increase in gas price as the people have rejected it.”

Mr Sharif said that when Asad Umar was on the opposition benches, he used to oppose indirect taxes, but now he was imposing new taxes worth Rs183 billion which included Rs70bn indirect taxes. He also lashed out at the government for allowing tax non-filers to purchase vehicles and properties.

“It is a premium on dishonesty and penalty on honesty,” he said, adding that instead of taking some innovative measures to increase the tax base, the government was putting more burden on salaried class and middle class people.

The PML-N chief claimed that when they acquired power in 2013, electricity generation was 13,000MW and circular debt was around Rs503bn. On the other hand, he said, when the PML-N government completed its term in May, it had left Rs496bn circular debt and the country was generating 21,000MW electricity.

Similarly, he said, the Nawaz Sharif government had increased the PSDP to Rs800bn from Rs300bn, whereas the present government had reduced it to Rs575bn. He said that 30 per cent reduction in the PSDP meant a massive cut in the budget for health, education, infrastructure and CPEC. He suggested to the government to spend Rs225bn, which it would get after slashing the PSDP, on the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam for which the PML-N government had acquired land with an amount of Rs122bn.

Speaking on the issue of new dams, the PML-N chief warned against reviving the controversial Kalabagh dam project, saying that any such step would be a “serious mistake”. He said there was no doubt that Kalabagh dam was a very useful project, but it could not be initiated without the consent of all the provinces, reminding that the three less-populous provinces had already opposed it.

He also suggested that all parties should sign a “charter of economy” in order to ensure continuity in economic policies irrespective of the change in the government.

The PML-N president alleged that the government was creating confusion about the CPEC by issuing contradictory statements about it, adding that the government had accorded a cold reception to the Chinese foreign minister despite the fact that China had always helped Pakistan in its difficult times and even during wars.

Finance minister’s response

Responding to Mr Sharif’s criticism, Finance Minister Umar justified the increase in gas prices, saying the poor would only have to bear 10pc of the hike as most of the burden had been put on the rich. He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority had recommended a 46pc increase in gas prices due to a loss of Rs154bn, but they had only allowed 30pc raise.

Challenging Mr Sharif’s figures, the minister said circular debt had now reached Rs1,180bn. He said they had imposed indirect taxes on 1,800cc plus cars and regulatory duties on expensive mobile phones and imported luxury food items which were not bought by the poor. However, he said he would reconsider the decision of removing certain restrictions on non-filers.

He warned that soon the government would take stern action against tax evaders. “Wait and see what happens. We are not here only to make speeches. We will go after tax thieves and will tell how they will be nabbed,” he said.

The minister, however, did not support the proposal of signing the charter of economy and instead called for reaching a consensus in parliament and its committees.

Earlier, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan moved an amendment to the assembly rules suggesting introduction of “Prime Minister’s Question Hour” on the first Wednesday once in each session for answering questions on the matters relating to the overall substantive policy or performance of the government.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri referred the amendment to the yet-to-be formed committee on the opposition’s demand.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2018