Islamabad:
The president of the Popular Party of Pakistan (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, described on Thursday the reasons for his party to support the second budget of the PML-N ruling coalition, saying that key amendments were made based on the contribution of PPP.
When addressing the National Assembly before the approval of the budget, Bilawal explained why PPP parliamentarians, an important coalition partner, had decided to support the Finance Law, despite the previous objections.
The support of the PPP occurs only a few days after the federal budget criticized, accusing the government of discriminating against Sindh and threatening to boycott the approval process. A similar confrontation occurred last year between the PPP and the PML-N, which the PTI had described as a “fixed struggle” destined to divert public scrutiny.
However, things remained largely quiet between the PPP and the PML-N during this year’s budget session.
In his speech, Bilawal said that the Government had increased the financing of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), a well -being scheme introduced by his mother and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, by 20 percent.
The PPP leader criticized the previous Government of PTI for trying to undermine the BISP in each budget and praised the starting prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, for constantly increasing his financing since he assumed the position.
The president of the PPP also pointed out that the government increased the income threshold for the exemption of taxes from RS600,000 to RS1.2 million annually. In addition, he stressed that the solar panel tax was reduced from 18 % to 10 percent after the objections raised by the members of the PPP.
Bilawal also welcomed the decision to reduce the arrest powers of the Federal Income Board (FBR). According to the new policy, arrests in fiscal cases can now only be carried out in cases of proven fraud and not in the research stage. In addition, such crimes have been declared rescued. “These are the reasons why the PPP is supporting this budget,” he said.
Previously, the president of the PPP presided over a meeting of the PPP parliamentary party, attended by all PPP legislators. During the session, PPP members informed Bilawal about their proposals regarding the federal budget. It was also informed about amendments incorporated into the budget as a result of PPP contribution.
Bilawal received detailed information on the acceptance of the demand for the part of a 20% increase in the BISP program budget, a statement said, and added that it was also informed that the Tax on Solar Panels has been reduced by almost 50% in response to PPP’s consistent defense.
Bilawal was also informed about how the government withdrew the controversial amendments related to FBR powers to arrest due to strong PPP reserves. On the PPP suggestion, PPP legislators were told that the federal budget now includes a 10% increase in government salaries and a 7% increase in pensions.
In addition, PPP legislators were informed that the party assured the complete exemption of income tax for salaried persons who earn up to RS100,000 per month. Another prominent key achievement during the information was the restoration of budget allocations for universities in SINDH after PPP demand.
