RAWALPINDI: The federal budget for the fiscal year 2020-21, presented by Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar on Friday, disappoints government employees as their salaries have not been increased.

“The salaries of the government employees have not been increased as per the price inflation. The utility tariff increased manifold but the salaries remained same,” said Mohammad Anwar, a government employee who resides in Satellite Town.

Mohammad Tajamal Hussain, a government teacher, said the government should have provided some relief to salaried class. He said that after increase in cement and steel, it had become difficult for small family with limited salaries to construct a house.

All Pakistan Clerk Association termed the budget jugglery of words as nothing given to government officials. He said after the pandemic, the government should have given relief to the common man also like it had given to business community.

PTI leader Raja Tariq Mehboob Kiani told Dawn that no new taxation means a big relief to the business community and common man. It is difficult time and economy is under pressure due to COVID-19 and the budget is balanaced,” On the other hand, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry termed the annual budget 2020-21 below expectations.

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Saboor Malik however welcomed that no new tax had been imposed. The revenue target in the budget has been set to Rs4963 billion which does not reflect the ground realities.He said Rs650 billion for PSDP needed to be increased.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2020