From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) central party leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Sunday raised reservations over his not party not being consulted on the upcoming federal budget 2024-25.
“The government neither told us anything related to the budget nor took us into confidence. We don’t know what the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is doing about privatisation policy, taxes, developmental program,” said the PPP leader.
Shah further said that the PPP does not know anything in terms of relief. He said he’s unaware whether the government is making the budget or the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) budget is being imposed. The PPP leader said that their proposals should have been included in the federal budget at any cost. “People will ask us what have we done. Will we tell them that we don’t even know about it?” he questioned.
Shah further said that the Bilawal Bhutto-led party will have to see politically what decision to take regarding the budget — which will be announced on June 12.
On the other hand, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervez Malik rebuffed the reports about the further increase in tax on the salaried class, saying that they are baseless and false. Speaking during Geo News’ Naya Pakistan programme, Malik said that the government is focusing on fair tax system.
