ISLAMABAD - The opposition on Monday in the Senate demanded from the Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin to take the House into confidence over PTI government’s talks with International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding raise in electricity tariff.

Leader of the Opposition in the House Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, opening debate on the annual budget for the fiscal year 2021-22, said that any hike in power tariff in future would open floodgate of inflation and poverty in the country, besides burdening the lower and middle income classes.  He remarked that finance minister had claimed recently that electricity tariff would not be increased but IMF, the international lender, was not going to withdraw from this condition as a measure to reduce the circular debt. “The finance minister should take the House into confidence over this matter,” he demanded. 

Former prime minister and PPP Senator Gilani explained that country’s circular debt had increased to dangerous levels and IMF had been pressing the government to increase electricity tariff to reduce it. “If this happened, the electricity prices would increase to the dangerous point.” He said that finance minister in his post-budget presser had indicated that it will take seven to eight years to get rid of circular debt that will increase burden on the poor. He said that government would likely to increase electricity tariff by 7 percent that will increase poverty and inflation.

The opposition leader also challenged government’s claim that country’s economy recorded a growth of over 3 percent during the outgoing fiscal year.

Senator Gilani urged the government to announce much-awaited NFC Award for fair distribution of resources among provinces. The former prime minister underscored a number of steps claiming these were taken by his then PPP government to give due rights to the smaller provinces, especially Balochistan. He questioned that PTI government had promised to declare south Punjab a separate province within three months after coming into power but failed to do so in three years. He stressed the government to take steps to make the southern part a separate province in Punjab.

The opposition leader pointed out that NAB law was discriminatory in nature. “Why there are two laws for one country,” he said, adding that “there should be difference between accountability and victimisation.” He also questioned transparency of the government plans to conduct next elections through Electronic Voting Machines. “Whether you can give guarantee of transparency (in election through this),” he said. He further said that PTI government has failed to address issues of inflation, unemployment, load shedding and water scarcity, and in agriculture and industrial sectors in the annual budget. 

Leader of the House Dr Shahzad Waseem in his speech termed the annual budget people-friendly and a balanced one what he said it is based on the “inclusive economic growth.” He blamed that PTI inherited fragile economy due to bad policies of previous governments of PPP and PML-N. He said both had been ‘playing musical chairs in the past only to seize power.’ He accused the last PPP government of turning profit-making state institutions like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) into redundant entities.  

Leader of House appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for reviving the country’s economy from the point when it was facing threat of bankruptcy. “PM Imran Khan always leads from the front,” he said adding that PTI government also successfully dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. “With the start of the journey of progress, the panic in the ranks of opposition is visible,” he said. He said that the economy’s growth rate has been projected at 7 percent and called his claims as the “hard facts.” He said that circular debt would be decreased in phases while the government has refused the condition of IMF to increase electricity tariff. 

On a point of public concern, PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that PTI’s federal government has urged the Supreme Court to ensure implementation of Article 140-A, in Sindh, which is linked with local government (LG) system. “But PTI government has ignored the fact that it itself disbanded the LG systems in three other provinces where it is the ruling party,” he said.  

Senator Rabbani pointed out that SC had ordered the PTI government in Punjab to restore the LG system but the former is reluctant to do this and now facing contempt of court. “The party who itself has dissolved LG systems, how can it urge SC to take notice in Sindh,” he said. He further said that this domain belonged to the parliament and the executive and both should only resolve the issue.