ISLAMABAD, June 11: Opposition parties on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the federal budget for 2008-09 and criticised the government for increasing indirect taxes on the people and for not announcing any concrete plans to reduce poverty and unemployment.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) described it as a “traditional budget” devoid of any revolutionary or fundamental step to reduce poverty and unemployment and to curb price hike.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Q said the budget had provided no relief to farmers and labourers and Jamaat-i-Islami criticised the government for increasing the general sales tax.

Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House soon after presentation of the budget, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi said the government had provided no relief to farmers.

Mr Ilahi, however, welcomed the government’s announcement that it would continue some of the programmes launched by the PML-Q government, though with different names.

He said there was nothing in the budget for industries, particularly for the construction industry. Similarly, he said, the people were expecting a reduction in prices of wheat, rice, pulses and ghee.