Senate continues debate on Finance Supplementary Bill, 2019

January 25, 2019: The upper house of the parliament on Friday continued debate on the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was presented by Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Asad Umar in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Senators from Treasury and Opposition benches participated in the debate and recommended various options to make this finance bill more effective and helpful for improving the living standard of country’s people.

Senators from government benches termed the Finance Bill as positive for people of the country that will be helpful in improving the economic situation of the country besides changing the life of common man. Senators from opposition benches criticized the bill, suggesting the government to include inputs from the parliamentarians for further improving the bill.

Senator Dr. Sikandar Mendro said that there was no need of presenting supplementary budget that led to several problems for poor segment of society as inflation is going up day by day.

He added business community and corporate sector will get benefit from this supplementary finance bill while there is no relief for poor people. He proposed the government to announce incentives for salaried class.

Senator Raza Rabbani said that the budget is specific class oriented as big business houses will get only benefit from it. He added the budget favors big business while there is nothing for middle class people.

He opposed stopping trade union activities in two organizations. He said that provinces are not getting appropriate funds under National Finance Commission (NFC) award. He added this step is also violation of 18th amendment.

He said that the government did not share meetings’ details of IMF team with the parliament. He said that the increase in electricity tariff is ample proof that rights of privileged class are being protected.

Moreover, he pointed out that the development funds were introduced first time in the country by General Zia-ul-Haq and then President Pervez Musharraf, while political governments also followed them during their tenures.

He further chimed that several things proposed in the supplementary budget will start giving negative impacts on people in year 2020. He added prices of life-saving drugs have also been increased by the government.

(APP)