LAHORE - In the backdrop of the 2010-11 budget fixing the curse of poverty and price hike is the biggest challenge for the PPP government, which has been making promises of giving Roti, Kapra and Makan to the acute poor sections of the society over the decades. No doubt millions of people living under the poverty line have never doubted the slogan and it took them into a world of fantasy full of alluring dreams. However, they waited for a time when the PPP government would materialise this dream although they did not have any idea how it would be done. The low- grade government employees expected a raise in their salaries in the budget and they got it. A wave of happiness run across the country among government employees over the news that their salaries have been increased about 50 per cent in view of the price-hike and inflation. Millions of families will take benefit of this decision. But the rest of the population of the country, which is not in government service, is looking forward to governments right steps to rescue them from the hell of price-hike and resultant poverty in which they are living. It has become an open secret now that taxes on the eatable commodities and products increase burden on the pocket of the common man and has to pay the sales tax on every purchase of soap, cooking oil, washing power or bread. The lower-middle class of the society is waiting for the time when the government will take steps for stabilizing prices and end the indirect taxes on products of daily use as it is the only thing that can give relief to the masses. The poorest of the poor, widows and destitute do not understand the machine of inflation and price-hike and they see it when they find themselves unable to pay for items of daily usage like eatables, kitchen items and household necessities. The success or failure of the PPP government like other regimes will be determined by its steps for the welfare of the poor and control on price-hike. One of the remarkable steps in the budget 2010-11 is 50 per cent increase in salaries of government employees and it will definitely reduce miseries of low-grade employees working in public sector. It is a good move that an allocation of Rs 90 billion has been made for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in budget, which indicates that the government wants to continue the programme on long term basis to support the acute poor. In total the Govt has allocated Rs 157.97 billion for job creation and poverty alleviation including BISP aiming at reducing poverty by generate employment opportunities and funding for kitchen of the destitute. It has been known that besides distribution of cash amount of Rs 1,000 per month to the poor families under BISP, loans will be given to the poor so that they can start small business to stand on their feet.