With the recent announcements of provincial budgets, there are a lot of areas that need to be addressed. The Punjab government presented its total financial outlay of Rs 1.044 trillion and this was followed by an uproar by members of parliament due to unaddressed issues of their constituency.  In comparison, the Sindh budget stands at Rs. 650 billion. Balochistan has always lagged behind, with poor agricultural performances largely due to thousands of acres of land lying barren in the province, as there is no proper infrastructure for water supply. The province however, has huge potential for hydel and coal power generation. Imran Khan for one, has taken up the fight for provincial inequality saying the KP budget was cut off. The mudslinging between the government and opposition continues, with Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique saying that Peshawar has become “polio city”. Additionally, PML-N has invited Imran Khan to deliver his speech on the budget on the floor of the National Assembly instead of criticising it outside parliament.
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) has said that the development budget for this year will have to be slashed as the government has overestimated its income figures but has also understated its expenditures in the new budget. Last year, the government made the same mistake and had to cut spending on development and military due to missed budget targets and misallocations.
PEW statements regarding underestimated spending in the nest year are absolutely believable government, with President Mamnoon Hussain heading to Nigeria for talks about economic cooperation with 70 people in tow. 70 seats on a plane... 70 hotel rooms... 70 people to be fed... no wonder the government has to raise taxes. Allegedly the 70 represent various economic sectors and it is hoped that they have gone as private entrepreneurs to learn, invest and bring investment... but then, such hopes spring eternal.