HYDERABAD, June 17: Leaders of public opinion and intellectuals have termed federal and Sindh budgets anti-people and demanded that the defence budget should be reduced and the NFC award be announced on the basis of revenue generation.

They were speaking at a budget seminar, organized by the Sindh National Party at the press club here on Thursday. The speakers condemned the allocation for construction of the greater Thal canal and called for shelving water projects on the River Indus.

In his speech, SNP chairman Ameer Bhambhro said Sindh generated 70 per cent of revenue of the country but it did not receive a judicious share in the National Finance Commission award.

He said poverty and unemployment in the province had crossed all limits and unemployed youths were forced to commit suicide. He demanded that the NFC award should be announced on the basis of income generation.

Speaking as the chief guest, Jami Chandio said the provinces themselves should control their resources. He said the Thal canal was being constructed to irrigate over one million acres allotted to army personnel.

Awami Tehrik general-secretary and Sindh Water Committee leader Abrar Qazi criticized the federal budget as defence-oriented. He stressed the need for establishing industries to end unemployment.

Sindh Democratic Party chairman Mohammad Yousuf Leghari said the federal budget was anti-people. Ayaz Latif Palijo in his speech said Sindh did not receive a share in the NFC award commensurate with it revenue generation.

Jam Saqi demanded equal rights for the provinces. The others who spoke on the occasion included Nazeer Memon, Afzal Gujjar, Apa Nazeer Qureshi, Dilshad Bhutto, Ramzan Memon and Iqbal Hussain.

The seminar adopted several resolutions, demanding withdrawal of general sales tax on all items, reduction in the defence budget, more allocations for health and education sectors and announcement of the NFC award on the basis of revenue generation.

The seminar further demanded that fresh election should be held for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution guaranteeing equal rights to the federating units.