ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Tuesday criticized current privatization and economic policies in the country.
Speaking in National Assembly, he said being representative of the public and opposition parties he was not satisfied with the government’s reply regarding conversion of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into a company as well as its justification for imposing Rs 40 billion new taxes without taking the Parliament into confidence.
He said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was ready to stand by the government shoulder-to-shoulder on important national issues, but the government must bring such issues in the Parliament.
“Making budget out of the Parliament is not appropriate, and if it was necessary to impose new taxes, it should have been brought in the House,” he added.
He highlighted the importance of restoring confidence of investors in economic policies and providing them business-friendly atmosphere.
He said his party believed in supremacy of the Parliament and Constitution, and wanted to see the green Pakistani flag high in the world with dignity and integrity.
Shah said inflation was very much inter-connected with all issues including poverty, unemployment, education and health, adding that there should be focus on these issues instead of launching multi-billion development projects for specific areas.
He said getting loans for repayment of previous loans and debt-servicing was not a good practice rather required measures should be taken to strengthen the national economy for the purpose.
Recounting performance of the PPP government in its last tenure, he said, it made efforts to make the Federation strong, passed 18th constitutional amendment, worked for rights of people of Balochistan, rehabilitated three million internally displaced persons of Swat, the then Presidents himself transferred its powers to the Parliament ending the ‘one-man show’ culture and made the Council of Common Interests a vibrant body.
Demanding withdrawal of the presidential ordinance with regard to PIA and new taxes, he along with opposition parties boycotted the House proceeding.
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq invited Leader of the Opposition in its chamber to have a sitting with Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar to resolve the issues amicably.
Source: APP
