ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Rehman Malik while taking part in budget debate in the Senate has said that efforts should be made to increase foreign remittances.
Participating in the discussion as the upper house of the Parliament on Friday continued discussion on Finance Bill 2017, Senate Rehman Malik said that steps should also be taken for promotion of overseas employment while new passport and NADRA offices should be set up in foreign missions to maximum facilitate the overseas Pakistanis.
Senate Rehman Malik said that that more allocations should be made for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) while anti-narcotics force should be further strengthened.
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar said that poor and destitute segments of the society should be given more relief in the budget. He said that strategy is needed for proper utilization of available resources.
Usman Kakar said that adequate funds should be allocated for less developed areas of the country in the budget to change the life of common man. He said that more allocations should be made for education and health sector.
Senate Usman Kakar said that more funds should be allocated for initiating development projects in Balochistan province. He said that focus should also be paid on agriculture reforms.
Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appreciated the Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar for presenting a balanced budget which is being hailed by all segments of society.
Senate Javed Abbasi said that despite several challenges at time when PML-N came into power but due to its strong economic strategy, now the Country is on path of economic progress. He said that special attention was paid on energy sector and several mega projects were initiated in this sector.
Javed Abbasi said that international economy monitors declared Country’s economy as emerging economy and termed government’s policies as best financial discipline.
The Senator said that the present gross domestic product (GDP) remained at highest level in 10 years. He said that more people were included in tax net with focus on revenue generation. He added foreign exchange reserves also increased during the tenure of present government.
Senate Javed Abbasi said that the government has paid special attention on promotion of agriculture sector while several incentives have been announced for farmers including agriculture loans for them. He said that there was plan to set up 1000 new stitching units to promote textile industry.
In addition, he said that the government was working to overcome the load shedding issue by adding 10,000 MW in the system. He said that Rs 401 billion has been allocated for energy sector projects in the budget while allocation has been made for Dasu Dam.
Javed Abbasi further said that Rs 35 billion has been allocated for higher education while sufficient allocation has been made for provision of soft drinking water.
