lahore - The federal budget 2014-15 has disappointed the masses particularly the rural class, as it will increase unemployment and poverty and reduce exports with no incentive for agri economy.
“The budget is very funny for agri sector as the government has announced some relaxations for tunnel farming which is very limited. Only 35,000 acres of land is being cultivated through tunnel farming out of over 50 million agricultural land. The government instead of facilitating traditional farmers by announcing some subsidy or cut in tax on seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, has announced relief for tunnel farming which is almost useless, observed Mustaqbil Pakistan chairman Engineer Nadeem Mumtaz Qureshi. Commenting on budget, he said that education and health outlays should have been enhanced further as the general public growth and demand is far outstripping the supply in the public services areas. Government has moved a little to expand tax net while focusing on existing taxpayers which will prompt tax theft to keep economy destabilised and dependent on foreign loans, he said.
The policymakers have decided not to annoy traders and large part of the business community that don’t want to pay taxes, he noted. He said that the government is more interested in executing projects that can result in their swift popularity rather than resolving real issues confronting economy.