HYDERABAD, June 7: The federal budget has come under scathing attack from leaders of public opinion, experts, agriculturists, consumers and even the business community.

Office-bearers of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry have termed the budget an ‘election budget’ and said no measures had been assured in the budget for development of trade and industry.

They said the government had increased wages of workers but wondered where from a businessman would get the money to pay the workers. They said the increase in mark up and gas charges would negatively affect industry.

They, however, welcomed subsidy on fertilisers and encouragement to the poultry industry.

The Sindh Democratic Forum, an association of intellectuals, irrigation and agriculture experts, termed the budget the most disappointing budget of the Gen Musharraf government.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Wednesday, forum convener Abrar Qazi, secretary Zulfiqar Halepoto, agriculture experts Dr Rajab Ali Memon, Nazir Memon and Mohammad Aslam Baloch and others claimed that the survey report showed that the government had failed to achieve growth targets in agriculture and industrial sectors.

They also criticised meagre allocations for health and education sectors and the increase in the defence budget and non-development expenditure on ministers etc.

They said nothing had been done for Sindh which was reeling under poverty and unemployment.

Referring to the allocation of Rs88 billion for lining 87,000 watercourses in the country, they said considering that only 10 per cent of targeted watercourses were lined last year, there was not much hope that the money would be utilised in Sindh.

They regretted that despite assurances by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Thar coal deposits were not being fully exploited.

They also criticised delay in construction of the remaining portion of a road between Sehwan and Ratodero.

They condemned allocation of funds for dams without taking Sindh into confidence.

The Consumers Rights Forum said the government had failed to come up to expectations people in the budget.

It said the government had failed to identify “extra market forces” responsible for rise in prices of sugar, pulses and wheat flour.

The forum pointed out that the budget was prepared by those who were “non-elected and not accountable” before people and were, therefore, unaware of the plight of people.

The forum was of the opinion that 15 per cent raise in salaries of government employees would not make much of a difference for them.