The National Assembly is continuing discussion on the budget for the next fiscal year.

Responding to the points raised by Naveed Qamar, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that presenting recommendations to the National Assembly on the budget is a constitutional obligation of the Senate.

He said this tradition has been continuing for many years.

Ishaq Dar pointed out that a copy of the Finance Bill is also laid before the Senate, although it is only the prerogative of the National Assembly to pass it. 

Taking the floor, Shahid Usman Ibrahim said the budget 2024-25 is the best possible given the difficult economic situation.

He said the budget envisages measures for the uplift of the agriculture sector. He said the inflation has come down and the stock market is registering new records due to the policies of the government.

Participating in the debate, Aamir Dogar said the budget carries no relief for the common man and the business community. He said the government should reduce sales tax on stationery and milk.

Participating in the discussion, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized on consensus and Charter of Economy to address the economic problems of the country.

He said this warrants deliberations amongst all the political parties including those sitting on the treasury and opposition benches.

He said the allied and opposition parties should also be taken on board on the budget and the PSDP.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appreciated the government’s efforts for bringing down the inflation as well as increasing the volume of Benazir Income Support Program by twenty seven percent in the budget. 

He said the BISP is being replicated in the world. He said this program should be provided with constitutional cover so that nobody could reverse it.

He said this is the only tool which provided relief to the people in difficult times including the floods.

Anwar-ul-Haq Chaudhry expressed satisfaction over the reduction in the inflation rate. He said this has happened due to the consistent efforts on the part of the government.

The National Assembly held discussion on charged expenditures, included in demands for grants and appropriations, pertaining to various ministries and their attached departments, for the next fiscal year.   

Among others, ministries and attached departments include Pakistan Post Office, Law and Justice Division, Senate, National Assembly, Supreme Court, Foreign Missions and foreign loans repayment.

Meanwhile, on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, erstwhile tribal areas have been exempted from taxes.

This was stated by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb while speaking in the National Assembly.

Speaking on the occasion, Sunni Ittehad Council leader Asad Qaisar thanked the Finance Minister for exempting ex-FATA and PATA from taxes.

Minister for State and Frontier Region Amir Muqam also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for this exemption.

Regarding vision Azm-e-Istehkam, he clarified that the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was taken into confidence over the matter. He also urged all political parties not to do politics over security issues and show unity against the menace of terrorism.

The House will now meet on Wednesday at 11 a.m.