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particular current issue.
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views in this forum are from the contributors' perspectives.
Federal budget 2003-04 has now been presented. The government has termed it a
people-oriented budget. What is your opinion?
Views must be focused and to the point to avoid unnecessary editing and should
not exceed 250 words. No views without the full name and address will be
entertained.
Please
send your opinions at
vf@jang.com.pk
Your Opinion
While going through the budget 2003-2004, I have
observed that keeping in view the significance of education, govt. has allocated
substantial amount for education, higher studies in information technology, and
health care.
AS compared to previous year's budget, there is increase of 80% in budget for
education, and 20 % increase in higher education. The govt step in this regard
is worth appreciating.
On the other hand, nothing has been announced for the betterment of the poor
class/low income group. Contrary to that, there is frequent price hike of items
of daily use which badly affects the purchasing power of middle and poor class.
The government should announce subsidy on items of daily use like flour,
rice and sugar.
Such arrangements be also made that poor people may get medical treatment in
private hospital and their children may also take admission and study in private
schools.
Emphasis be give on provision of fair justice, preservation of rights, honesty,
morality, law and order, discipline and welfare work for the needy.
Waheed A. Siddiqui,
Arlington heights, ill, 60005
I am sure that this will also be an "eye wash" for a middle man as
were the previous budgets in decades. A layman cannot be pleased with figures
and percentages. They want something more in reality.
Malik A. Waheed
Toronto, Canada
Budget in Pakistan is always like making castles in the air. The good economy
and good budget always in our country are for the rich and bureaucrats.
Aziz ul Ghafoor
Japan
I believe that Budget will pave the way for future development and prosperity of
Pakistan. This will be the first real step towards poverty alleviation.
Ijaz ul Haq Badar
Abu Dhabi
UAE
In my opinion this is not a
people-oriented budget. It is, in fact, a government-oriented budget. Like
former premier Moin Qureshi, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has been sent to
Pakistan by the world donor agencies i.e. the World Bank and IMF and Shaukat
Aziz is working in Pakistan on the agenda given to him by the donor agencies.
People in Pakistan due to rampant unemployment and economic constrains are
committing suicide. The youth of today is running from pillar to post to get
jobs, but in vain. How long the youth of Pakistan have to wait? Despite the
economic crises and mounting hatred against the Muslims in the U.S., our young
generation is still continue to be hopeful that one-day they will be able to
land in the U.S.
This is because the youth does not have the opportunities in Pakistan. The scale
of wages in the private sector is too low as compared to the pay scales of
developed countries. What is the use of 10 billions dollars which our government
repeatedly announces that it is lying in the banks. The projects announced by
the government will take another five years to complete and by then the age of
our youths will be increased by another five years.
The Economic Managers of Pakistan are short-sighted. They cannot devise a
strategy where Pakistanis can get relief from the ever-growing population and
inflation. This has led to many socio-economic problems in the country. It is
quite easy to announce "manipulated budget" for a nation with 36%
literacy rate.
The present budget is just an "eye-wash" and nothing else. How can one
call it a people-oriented budget? The policies announced by the donor agencies
for Pakistan are not even "people-friendly" policies. If the donor
agencies want a friendly policies to continue in Pakistan than they have to
announce the policies according to the wishes and culture of Pakistanis and not
according to the desire of the donor agencies.
After a lapse of 10 months, the parliament has not been able to do any
legislation for the betterment of Pakistanis. The government and the opposition
are fighting on the issues of Legal Frame Work Order (LFO) and the President's
uniform, whereas there is much more to be done beyond the petty issues as LFO
and the President's uniform.
Who has elected the parliamentarians? They are elected by the people and not by
the President. So the power to evaluate the performance of our so-called
economic managers and to dismiss the parliament should be exercised by the
nation itself and not by the President alone. If the Nation is given the right
to dismiss the assembly than only our those so-called economic managers will
announce a people-oriented budget.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi-Pakistan
pakistan@attglobal.net
Its funny to listen from
Finance Minister Shukat Aziz as he said in his budget speech that there well be
decrease in electricity charges in the coming years. This is a joke with this
innocent nation.
The electricity bills are raised several times a year and it's never been
decreased, because this well be a relief to the common man; and Govt doesn't
want to give a relief to the people.
Recently some of the farmers in rural areas are shutting down their tube-wells
as they now can't afford the increasing charges of the electricity bills. But
the minister tells them to wait for another three years. This budget is a
traditional bearuecratic one, no relief for the common man.
Hidayat.
Waterloo, Canada
After
studying the budget 2003-2004, I came to conclusion that this budget is
people-oriented and believe that it will give some sort of relief to the people
of Pakistan. When you compare this budget with the previous regimes' budgets, I
don't see the same kind of taxes increase; this budget has eliminated or
decreased taxes on foods, now that's important, I see this as the beginning of
the good days for a strong future of Pakistan.
The people of Pakistan are bit impatient in this process, they want everything
changed NOW, sometimes they forget that "you can destroy anything within no
time, but when it comes to rebuild, it takes years".
The members in the opposition parties are not much help in the rebuild process,
instead of concentrating on the strength and the prosperity of Pakistan, they
gather in the assemblies and play "KABUDDIES", now that's wrong.
May God help Pakistan.
Raja Masood Ahmed
Roselle, Illinois.
U.S.A.