JI terms federal budget as anti people

Lahore: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Siraj ul Haq, has  termed the federal budget as anti people, with privileges for the elite class and deprivations for the 95 per cent masses.

Far from being a revolutionary budget, this is yet another traditional jumble of words that aims at giving false hope to the masses, Sirajul Haq said, while commenting on the 2014-15 federal budget announced by the Finance Minister.  He said the rulers believed that the masses were speechless and won’t react to the budget. However, he said, it would have been better if the government had announced a pro-poor budget.

The JI chief said that electricity was the basic requirement and the budget proposed an advance tax on every household, which was sheer  injustice. He noted that the previous electricity tariff was being altered and instead, a fixed tariff of Rs. 11 per unit up to three hundred units was being imposed. Similarly, the tariff on above 300 units was being raised to Rs.17 per unit and would be charged from the current month. Besides, 17 per cent tax was being imposed on CNG, and sunflower and canola seeds as would increase prices of ghee and edible oil adding to the misery of the poor.

On the other hand, he said, there was a proposal to withdraw 10 per cent tax on motor vehicles of above 1800 cc which would be a favour to the rich.

JI Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch, described the federal budget as highly disappointing, especially for the poor workers,  womenfolk and workers and pensioners. He said the budget was bound to increase poverty , unemployment and price spiral, which in turn, would increase street crime and create anarchy.