|
People
term raise meagre against inflation
By Moayyed Jafri
LAHORE
THE general public has rejected the government’s claim that the
federal budget 2009-2010 is pro-poor, terming the 15 percent salary
raise meagre compared to 22 percent inflation rate.
“The 15 percent salary raise is a discriminatory act as there had
been a 115 percent rise in the salaries of police and military. The
government should have at least given a raise to match the
inflation, if not more,” commented Ali Kazim, a government employee.
“The government has mocked the Supreme Court’s verdict to cut
petroleum prices by announcing a meagre cut and changing the name of
the Petroleum Development Levy to Carbon Tax.
This goes on to show how that even the Supreme Court is powerless
when it comes to implementing a measure that is meant to provide
relief to the people,” remarked a disappointed civilian.
“The overall picture appears hopeful considering the attention given
to the education and health sector. The government has allocated Rs
70 billion for the Benazir Income Support Programme.
This step may not be much helpful because the distribution system is
corrupt,” said Usman, another citizen.
People had mixed feelings about the federal budget while a
significant majority was dismayed over it.
“The annual budget is useless document because of the interim
monitory policies and mini budgets that reshape the annual budget.
This budget is more of what the government hopes to do rather than
what they will eventually end up doing,” said Mubashir, a father of
four.
Although there are those who see the federal budget as a step in the
right direction but they too are unsure of how it may give relief to
the common man.
“The way I see it, the budget intends to lay a broad industrial and
agricultural base by allocating huge funds for these sectors, but
this is not the first time such steps have been taken. We have seen
such claims regarding the textile industry too but it did not
produce any significant results,” said Sajid.
Some termed the 2009-2010 budget another numbers game with no
respite for the people. “All they have done is change the numbers
whereas the overall situation for the common man remains the same.
The tax proposed on cigarettes will hit the lowest class the hardest
as 15 percent increase does not bother the upper class at all. The
Rs 50 billion announced for IDPs is a step worth praising.”
“The only thing I can make out of the budget is that the prices of
all petroleum related products and services, including transport
fares, would shoot up. I fail to see any way this budget is would
affect the life of a common man positively other than giving a 15
percent raise while devising 15 new ways to increase the cost of
living,” said a disappointed Lahorite.
“The government’s step to increase the developmental budget more
than the military budget is an encouraging step but the real
challenge is still the tax to GDP ratio of the country which is 9
percent - among the lowest of the world,” remarked Umair Sheikh, a
commerce student.
The News: Sunday, June 14, 2009 |
