The National Assembly has commenced general discussion on the budget 2023-24.
Opening the debate, Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz asked the government to pay special attention to the uplift of agriculture and industrial sectors to steer the country out of economic crisis and enhance foreign exchange reserves.
Raja Riaz said agriculture is backbone of our economy but regretted that the budget does not envisage the measures that the sector deserved. He stressed promoting agri research to enhance per acre yield. By achieving self-reliance in food items, we can save valuable foreign exchange reserves. He emphasized for accelerating work on construction of dams.
The Opposition leader said the increase in electricity and gas tariffs has badly affected our industries. He said the government should extend maximum facilitation to the industries to revive the economy. He suggested the government enhance concessions for renewable energy in order to produce cheap electricity.
Alluding to the problems faced by the masses due to inflation, he said the price control committee needs to be revived across the country. He said the government must ensure that essential commodities are available to the people at reasonable rates.
He appreciated the government for enhancing the salaries of government employees by thirty to thirty five percent. He recommended that the pensions also be enhanced by thirty percent.
Raja Riaz said that ample funds should be allocated to bringing improvement in the education and health sectors.
The opposition leader pointed out that Pakistan is blessed with natural resources worth billions of dollars and there is a need to fully explore them.
