ISLAMABAD: The federal government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has tabled Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021, mini-budget, during a chaotic session of the National Assembly (NA), however, the top opposition leaders played truant after making tall claims to defending the nationals’ rights.
The federal government has tabled a series of legislation for its approval from the Lower House of the Parliament including mini-budget and SBP amendment bill.
Despite heated speeches by the opposition leaders against the mini-budget, the top opposition leaders including Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, former president and Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have not shown up to the important session.
Federal Minister Shaukat Tarin presented the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 amid uproar from the opposition lawmakers which is necessary legislation to receive another $1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the sixth review of the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility.
Shameful behaviour by the opposition. pic.twitter.com/fDpHba9NIs
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) December 30, 2021
Other than the finance amendment bill, the ordinances that have been extended include the Federal Government Properties Management Authority Ordinance, 2021, Elections (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, Public Properties (Removal of Encroachment) Ordinance, 2021, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, Pakistan Food Security Flow and Information Ordinance, 2021 and Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, Radio Pakistan reported.
The top opposition leaders remained absent from the key NA session who had been consistently giving a narrative to defend the public interests and not allowing the federal government to impose hefty taxes due to the pressure of the IMF.
Political analyst Mazhar Abbas said in a Twitter message, “Anticlimax to all important NA session. Mini-budge likely to pass after opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif decided not to attend the session. It’s like going into the match without a captain.”
Anti climax to all important NA session. Mini-budge likely to pass after opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif decided not to attend the session. It’s like going into the match without a captain.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) December 30, 2021
Shaukat Tarin, after tabling the finance amendment bill, said in a press conference that the government has reviewed tax exemptions worth Rs2 billion as the tax relaxations were only lifted from the imported items.
Regarding the SBP Amendment Bill 2021, the finance minister said the legislation will strengthen the central bank by giving it administrative independence which is also in line with the PTI manifesto.