ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly and the Senate opened the debate on Finance Bill 2008-09 on Saturday. Leader of House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, demanded freezing the expenditures of Aiwan-e-Sadr, as he was highly critical of the budget provision for its enhancement. He also said that president must not remain part of the Parliament. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi opening debate on the Finance Bill termed it as an anti-poor budget and charged that coalition government led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was formulating policies against its election manifesto and slogan of Roti (bread), Kapra(clothes) and Makan (house) was set behind. Pervaiz said that the previous government had allocated Rs 40 billion subsidy for wheat in the budget but now the present government had reduced it to half. The price of wheat and flour would increase due to the reduction in subsidy, he said. "There is shortfall of Rs 77 billion in development budget while lesser amount has been allocated for energy sector," he said, adding, the raise made in defence budget was insufficient. The Leader of Opposition further said that the first budget of every government reflected its vision and policies for next five years but after reviewing the budget 2008-09, it was found that it neither had any vision nor well determined direction. Commenting on textile industry, Ch Pervaiz Elahi said that no incentives were given to Power looms industry and Rs. 19 billion reserved for Research and Development of textile industry were terminated. Criticizing the government over its pledges regarding provision of accommodation to common people of the country, he said that the government imposed tax on the plots and houses. The poor people have to pay Rs 100 per yard on plot and Rs 50 per feet on the house while in the previous government those taxes were paid by builders or contractors, he said. "Now, the construction of a house for the poor is remains out of his approach," he said. The GDP remained 5.8 per cent in the previous government despite continuous strikes and processions by the lawyers' community, the incidents of terrorism and the unfortunate incident of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he added. The Opposition Leader said the government had held up the Kala Bagh Dam (KBD) project but it had no clear policy regarding alternative power projects. He added that Rs. 300 million allocated for Bhasha Dam were not even sufficient for arranging the accommodation of people needed for its construction. The Opposition Leader said that the incumbent government had reduced the Rs. 113.5 billion subsidy in the tenure of the previous government to Rs. 74 billion, which would not only increase the duration of load-shedding but would also soar the rates of the electricity. The amount of Rs 15 billion allocated for the energy sector was also a negligible amount, he added. He said that though the subsidy on DAP fertilizer was enhanced from Rs 500 to Rs 1200 yet during their rule when subsidy was Rs 500 the bag of DAP fertilizer was available for Rs 1000 and the price of the same bag of fertilizer was around Rs 3700 and Rs 1200 subsidy would become meaningless for farmer. Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi said that the prices of diesel would be increased by Rs 10 per litre due to reduction in the subsidy, adding that the previous government had given subsidy of Rs 175 billion. The Opposition had set an example by giving cordial and friendly atmosphere to Federal Finance Minister Naveed Qamar to announce the budget, as it was never witnessed in Parliamentary history, he said. He said that he had never witnessed such government in country's history, which had taken oath from the President whom they considered as unconstitutional and illegal. Participating in debate on budget, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal described 2008-09 budget as the most suitable budget in the worst circumstances but he regretted the less allocations for the education sector and urged to increase it sufficiently during next three years. He alleged that the previous Punjab government had spent billions of rupees on advertisement of "Parra Lekha Punjab" but practically did little. "Many new schools can be opened if these billions of rupees were spent for education. There are now 60 per cent science and 90 per cent computer labs in schools," he said. Ahsan mentioned various projects of the PML-N government in Punjab like upgrading education institutions in rural areas, uniform education system, introducing new curricula for excellence pursuit and revision of service structure for teachers. "As far as we do not allocate sufficient money for this sector and introduce uniform education system, the country cannot progress. The teachers are not upgraded for 20 years while a captain becomes a brigadier during this period," he said. "Present century is century of knowledge revolution and we need world class educational institutions to compete globally," Ahsan said. "We should commit at least four per cent of GNP for education during next three years. If resources were not provided then this sector could not be developed," he added. But, he strongly criticized the previous government and Musharraf regime for presenting worse economic conditions and power shortage and demanded his impeachment and accountability. "The economy and politics depend on justice, now the whole nation, lawyers' community and civil socity are struggling for independence of judiciary. Long march would be continued until the restoration of deposed judges," he said. Ahsan Iqbal said, despite that billions of dollars had come in the country but not even a single megawatt electricity was produced during the last eight years and the country also came down on Human Development Index. He demanded to set up an inquiry commission to probe wrong-doings during the military regime and urged for the restoration of judges prior to November 3 positions. Taking part in the debate JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazal-Ul-Rehman said that country was facing a lot of crises, which could be overcome if the present government continued its honest policies. Maulana said that all the powerful nations want to capture the economy of weaker nations under the policy of globalization; so the government should adopt strong policies to control inflation. He said that at the moment the country was facing judicial and economic crises but the long-term sincere polices could remove the pains. "The external powers are violating the territory of Pakistan and killing our soldiers while our government is only protesting against it. The violation would be continuing until we don't show our force and power to stop such attacks. The government's peace process in Tribal Areas is good sign but it needs more about it," he said. Fazlur Rehman said that "the last government privatized the useful organizations and the budget deficit reached at 7% from the limit of 4%; so sustainable economic policies are required to control the loss this time." He demanded a strict action against the wheat hoarders also. PML (N) member National Assembly Ayaz Amir appreciated that the House could debate the defence budget but said there was no use of giving its details just before the winding up speech by the Finance Minister. Taking part in the general debate on budget for the fiscal year 2008-09, he lauded the government's strong protest on the coalition forces attack in Mohmand Agency. He said while launching protest there is a marked change from the past, when the government would try to defend the foreign forces action. Referring to the statement of Interior Minister, which was later denied, that the peace agreement had been scrapped with militants in Swat, Ayaz called for a uniform foreign policy coming from one person. "Militancy in Swat and FATA is too serious a business to be left with Interior Ministry," he added. He wondered as to why, despite parliamentary sovereignty, the judges were not being restored and said the issue should be left to the wisdom of the House. "The nation does not need a constitutional package...call a secret session of the House and the issue will be resolved by the evening." Earlier, Abdul Qadir Khanzada taking part in the debate said the 20 percent increase in pay and pension was not enough, adding the house rent for the government employees also needs to be enhanced. He said by removing subsidy on wheat and reducing it on gas will put undue pressure on the middle class people. The levy of tax on houses and plots, he added, was unfair with those who live in small houses. Hina Rabbani Khar in her speech concentrated on rebutting various charges by Leader of the Opposition Pervaiz Elahi and asked when their government had the power, why it did not initiate Kalabagh Dam. She also termed the previous government responsible for bad governance. She said it was the best possible budget under the worst inflationary pressure Pakistan is going through and added that Benazir support programme will benefit the poorest of the poor. She also said that steps taken for agriculture, the backbone of national economy, would help the country move towards self-sufficiency in food and boost textile industry too as it would improve the production of cotton. Dr Donia Aziz said while reading speech of Hina Rabbani Khar that she was minister in the previous government and she lauded the previous budget. Now, she is criticizing the previous government. "Hina should inform the House that she was telling a lie today or she had told lie in the past," Donia said. Participating in the debate, MNA from FATA, Kamran Khan asked the government to pay special attention towards development of FATA and launch projects there to improve living standard of local people. Taking part in the debate, Jamshed Ahmad Satti termed the budget 2008-09 as the best one in the prevailing situation and said Benazir support programme will benefit the poorest of the poor. Taking part in debate, MNA Hamayun Saifullah urged development of agricultural infrastructure in NWFP, and construction of dams to benefit poor farmers. MNA Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro appreciated the budget and proposed to exploit the potential of Thar Coal reserves for power production. Leader of the House in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani while opening debate in the Upper House of the Parliament over the finance bill for the fiscal year 2008-09 Saturday said that the Presidency should be excluded from the Parliament through amendment in article 90 of the Constitution. "The Parliament should consist only of the National Assembly and the Senate and the 'Aiwan-e-Sadr' should be excluded through amendment in the article 90 of the Constitution," said Rabbani. He admitted the government couldn't provide sufficient relief to the poor through its first budget, however, he added that regularisation of contract employees and 20 per cent increase in salaries were pro-poor measures. He denied government's connection with the closure of two talk shows of a private TV channel and said the government favoured free media and wanted to promote freedom of expression. Speaking on lawyers' long march, he said the government fully facilitated the participants of the march. Senator Prof Ibrahim said the budget was the continuity of former government's policies. He criticised the increase in Aiwan-e-Sadr budget and urged the parliamentarians to cut their perks and privileges. He said that GST should not be more than 5 per cent and asserted that there was no relief for common man in the budget. Senator Wasim Sajjad said the government disappointed the poor and the budget would further increase inflation and unemployment. He urged the government to resolve the judges' issue through a separate constitutional package so that the issue might be settled without further delay. He recommended that education and food should be declared as fundamental rights of the people and the Kalabagh Dam project should not be put off. Senator Dr Khalid Ranjha identified serious flaws in the financial bill and said that 22 out of 26 clauses of the bill didn't fall under the category of money bill. He also criticised the government for increasing the number of judges of the Supreme Court from 17 to 29. Instead, he recommended, the government should increase the number of civil judges and family courts in the country. Senator Malik Mumtaz Hussain alleged that the previous government had lit fire in Balochistan and said that the law and order situation in the province was still fragile. He demanded more funds in the budget for maintaining peace in the restive province. Senator Dr Muhammad Saad recommended exemption of sales tax on essential food items. He informed that 53 thousands schools in the country were without boundary walls, 56 thousands schools without water, 81 thousands without electricity while 97 thousand schools were without any building. He said keeping in view these facts, the government should enhance education budget up to 4 per cent of the GDP. Senator Kamran Murtaza severely criticised the government's bid to amend over 26 laws through the finance bill, 22 of which, he alleged, didn't fall under the criteria of money bill. He said if the President refuses to ratify the budget, another crisis would emerge. Senator Rukhsana Zuberi urged to take energy security measures and said that Thar Coal Project was in doldrums. She said that Kalabagh Dam had been made a political issue. Senator Fozia Fakkharuz Zaman said that the promotion of solar and wind energy was the need of the time. "Banks must not grant loans to politicians rather should help small industrialists," she noted. Senator Latif Khosa said it was very lamentable that Senate had no power to affect upon the budget. He demanded that the Senate should be empowered to debate and pass the financial bill for giving it the purposeful role. He said that PPP was committed to restore deposed judiciary and had already taken three steps in the direction. "The first step was the order of detained judges' release in the maiden speech of PM, in the second step we issued salaries to deposed judges and in the third move we increased the strength of SC judges in the finance bill," he said. Latif Khosa said that no political party should take the advantage of judicial issue and score points. He said that political leaders should not hijack lawyers' movement and must avoid delivering speeches in lawyers' processions. Senator Hafiz Rashid Ahmad said that in the given circumstances budget was good. He said that there would be no progress in the country till provincial autonomy. Prof Khurshid Ahmad criticised the increase of SC judges through finance bill.