AMEER DE JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI, Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman, has strongly rejected the federal budget, qualifying it as a “pro-ellite document” that exacerbates poverty, inflation and inequality.
Going on Wednesday to a press conference in Mansoora, he said that the Government has not been able to relieve the common man, choosing instead favoring the ruling class and the privileged segments of society.
“The budget imposes a heavy fiscal load on wage and average income groups, while offering significant concessions or structural reforms,” he said.
He described the affirmations of poverty reduction by the government as “delusional” and “contrary to terrestrial realities”, noting that more than 110 million Pakistani continue to live below the poverty line.
Hafiz Naeem accused the Government of bad managing the Benazir entry support program (BISP), claiming that it has become a tool for political manipulation and corruption, particularly in Sindh.
RS700 billion assigned for poverty relief is being used for corrupt practices. This misuse must be investigated and those punished, “he said.
He argued that if these funds were invested in IT education, the income of the Pakistan’s IT industry could have exceeded RS300 billion.
Criticizing the deteriorated state of education, he stressed that almost 29.2 million children remain out of school, while “ghost schools” continue to drain public funds through fraudulent means.
He regretted the lack of investment in education despite the repeated statements of an “education emergency.”
Speaking about taxes, Hafiz Naeem revealed that the salaried class contributed 499 billion rupees in taxes this year, but did not receive relief.
He requested complete tax exemption for salaried workers and condemned the fact that 111 departments, including military organizations and private entities such as Zia Hospital, are exempt from taxes, while the poor are loaded with invoices of infected public services.
He abruptly criticized the recent 600% increase in the salaries of the president of the National Assembly and the president of the Senate, questioning the silence of government officials on the matter.
He also denounced the imposition of an 11% tax on solar energy systems, qualifying it as a violation of environmental and energy conservation commitments.
“The Government and the opposition only intend to be adversaries, but they join when it comes to improving their advantages and privileges,” he said.
When commenting on the economy, Hafiz Naeem said that the current growth rate of the country of 0.45% reflects the failures of the policies, especially the “anti-gapulting measures” taken by the successive governments.
He criticized agricultural credit schemes as “advertising acrobatics” that do not provide real support for farmers, and pointed out a 30% decrease in cotton cultivation as a consequence of negligent policies.
He described the continuous use of obsolete tools such as form 47 as emblematic of systemic rot in agricultural governance.
In addition, he claimed that public funds are being collected through excessive taxes without any tangible benefit in return, either in education, health or public safety.
Referring to the Independent Energy Producer (IPP) producer, he said that reduced electricity rates are still not fulfilled, while the increases in oil encumbrances are equivalent to “theft of daylight” of citizens’ pockets.
“The Government has admitted that it may not achieve the income objectives at RS1,500 billion and intends to impose an additional RS 500 billion in taxes. What is the logic behind that budget?” asked.
Citing debt figures, Hafiz Naeem said that each Pakistani now owes RS76,000, with RS5 billion RS11 billion in total debt service that is destined for interest payments. “If interest rates were reduced by half, it would significantly reduce electricity and gas prices,” he added.
He called the Federal Income Board (FBR) a “corruption center”, advocating deep institutional reforms or even the dissolution of the FBR to improve tax collection and eliminate debt dependence. He accused the FBR of using anti -corruption action threats to facilitate greater corruption.
Demanding a reduction in civil and military privileges, he urged the Government to redirect national resources towards the genuine needs of people, especially defense requirements rooted in strategic need, not extravagance.
By reaffirming their support for farmers, Hafiz Naeem announced a campaign against injustices faced by the agrarian community, citing the previous success in obtaining reduced electric tariffs after public pressure against IPP.
In foreign matters, he claimed that the Indian intelligence agency, RAW, is involved in sponsoring terrorism in Baluchistan. “There can be no negotiations with complicit entities in terrorism,” he emphasized.
He also urged the Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto to make serious diplomatic efforts on the issue of Kashmir and demanded a clear and mainly of the Pakistani government against US and Israeli policies.
