People of all walk of life in KP laud Federal Budget 2022-23
Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR : People of all walks of life including civil society, labourers, government employees, pensioners and economists here Friday highly appreciated the Federal Budget 2022-23 and termed it historic and inclusive in the prevailing difficult economic situation.
PMLN leader and member provincial assembly, Ikhtiar Wali Khan told APP that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had deserved full credit and appreciation for presenting an inclusive budget in which relief was provided to all segments of the society.
He said the government had prepared a historic budget in less than two months that was enjoying support from the masses. He said repeated change of finance ministers by the PTI Government has brought unnecessary changes in the country’s economic and fiscal policies, making negative effects on the national economy.
Ikhtiar Wali said economic stability was the top most duty of the government and efforts were being made to increase exports to bring socioeconomic prosperity.
He said the PTI government has taken Rs20,000 billion loan in the last four, meaning by Rs5,000 billion loans per year, which is 80percent loan in the country’s history.
The economic mismanagement of Imran Khan government has plunged the country into price-hike and inflation, adding the unprecedented increase has been witnessed in prices of edible commodities during PTI government that adversely affected life of common man.
“We have to move forward with positive thinking to take the country out of existing economic challenges.”
Muhammad Naeem, Professor Economics Department, University of Swabi termed the federal budget comprehensive, goal-oriented and inclusive in all respect.
Despite economic challenges, he said PMLN government has presented wide-ranging budget in which maximum relief was provided to people of all walks of life including pensioners and government employees.
Dr Naeem said floor was being sold at Rs40 per KG at utility stores today while prices of sugar, pulses and ghee were brought down by the government. He praised the Government for establishing a pension fund.
He expressed the hope that the economic situation would soon improve after the revival of the IMF program and tough economic decisions of the government. Dr Naeem said Pakistan can achieve rapid progress by promoting exports, textile and agriculture production besides controlling the current account deficit.
He appreciated the proposal of the Finance Minister to increase exports targets to the tune of 35 billion dollars and government austerity measures.
Fuad Ishaq, former President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while hailing the Federal Budget 2022-23 said that long hours load shedding has made negative effects on industrial production and expressed the hope that the PMLN Government would address the problem of load shedding once for all.
Economist and financial expert, Sumbal Riaz said that allocation of Rs525 billion for pensioners was a big relief, which would help ease their financial problems.
She said the green movement program, construction of a mini sports stadium and talent hunt scheme for youth were praised as worthy steps by the government.
She lauded a proposal of the finance minister regarding bringing reforms in the dispute resolution mechanism to facilitate investors.
Misal Khan, retired Information Officer while appreciating the Federal Budget said the government reforms for revival and proposal of films, theaters and stage programs would promote the soft image of the country besides providing healthy entertainment to people.
He said allocation of Rs364 billion for Benazir Income Support Program, Rs12 billion for subsidy of the utility stores and bringing inflation to 11.5 percent was highly commendable.
Adnan Jalil, former Vice President Federation of Pakistan Commerce and Industry termed the budget inclusive and appreciated the government decision to exempt people from taxes who are getting less than Rs one lakh.(APP)