Latest news with #PML-N-led
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt comes under attack in NA for ignoring agri sector
PML-N-led coalition government in the Centre now has 229 members in the NA. PHOTO: APP Lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches on Thursday welcomed improved economic indicators and emphasized the need for bipartisan efforts to sustain economic progress and promote inclusive growth. Resuming the budget debate, Raja Qamar-ul-Islam of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) praised the budget as historic and lauded the role of Pakistan's armed forces in sending a firm message to India. He expressed confidence that the budget 2025-26 would pave the way for sustainable economic growth in the country. Amir Dogar of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) criticized the government for overlooking the agriculture sector and called for raising the minimum wage to Rs 50,000. Atif Khan of SIC criticized the budget and stressed relief measures for the poor segment of society. Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) legislator Shagufta Jumani appreciated the government for allocating significant funds to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). She also urged the government to allocate dedicated funds for polio eradication, emphasizing the importance of sustained public health efforts. Rana Hayat proposed the creation of a special House committee to focus on the problems faced by farmers, a vital segment of the economy. MNA Usama Ahmed Mela, emphasizing the critical role of agriculture in national development, called on the government to provide incentives for farmers, including subsidies for fertilizer, pesticide and broader agricultural reforms. He also suggested a review of the Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) authority, indicating concerns about its administrative reach.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
MNAs demand agriculture zones
PML-N-led coalition government in the Centre now has 229 members in the NA. PHOTO: APP Legislators from both opposition and treasury benches on Wednesday called for the establishment of Special Agriculture Zones, IT Facilitation Centers nationwide, increased farmer support, and funding for churches and temples to promote economic growth and social inclusion. Resuming general budget debate on the fifth day in the National Assembly, Dr Zulfikar Ali Bhatti of PML-N stressed the need to develop rural areas and strengthen the agricultural sector. He proposed the establishment of Special Agriculture Zones nationwide, equipped with all necessary facilities to enhance agricultural productivity. He also advocated for providing incentives to farmers. Additionally, he called for the creation of IT facilitation centers in rural regions and the implementation of skills development programs for youth, particularly in underprivileged areas, to promote self-sufficiency. Awais Haider Jhakar of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) highlighted the challenges faced by farmers and criticized government policies that have contributed to a decline in agricultural output. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) urged Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah to issue a ruling calling for strict punishment of those involved in the attempted abduction of Maulana Fazl ur Rehman's son and demanded their immediate arrest. Zulfiqar Ali Behan of the Pakistan People's Party called for the imposition of an agricultural emergency in the country and the removal of taxes on fertilizers to boost farm production. He also called for the establishment of a university in Naushahro Feroze. Chaudhry Mubeen Arif Jatt of SIC demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposed 18 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on solar panels. He also highlighted the hardships faced by farmers, noting that their produce is being sold at prices lower than their production costs. Chaudhry Riaz Ul Haq of PML-N demanded a review of the Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) excessive powers and emphasized the need to lower fertilizer prices. Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani of the PPP said that the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) is providing excellent services in liver transplantation. He also stated that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway is a vital need of the people and urged authorities to pay attention to the project. MNA Sohail Sultan said that it is the government's duty to provide relief to the people. Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah of SIC underscored the importance of offering targeted incentives to empower the nation's youth. Discussing agriculture, MNA Nasir Iqbal emphasized the importance of the sector and urged the government to either raise crop prices or reduce production costs.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gulf crisis: Imran defers protest for 2 weeks
In view of an ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, PTI Parton-in-Chief Imran Khan has decided to defer his party's planned protest movement by two weeks, said the former prime minister's sisters on Tuesday after a meeting with him at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. "Imran Khan has postponed the protest movement for two weeks in light of global circumstances," said Noreen Khanum and Uzma Khan while talking to the media outside the prison. According to them, the nation is awaiting statements from the prime minister, the president, and the field marshal regarding Pakistan's policy on the conflict. On June 1, Imran announced the launch of a nationwide protest movement against the PML-N-led ruling coalition, declaring that he would lead the campaign from behind bars. The announcement was conveyed by PTI Senator Ali Zafar following his meeting with Imran. Addressing the media outside the prison, the senator had said the former PM had decided that the waiting game was over and the party would now take to the streets in a well-organised countrywide campaign. However, he had not disclosed when the movement would be started. Noreen noted that although the PTI founder had not met anyone for a week, he was well-informed about international affairs. "He said global developments will affect Pakistan and that all Pakistanis must unite at this time," adding that Imran is concerned over both internal and external situations. She said Imran Khan called the proposed budget elite-culture-driven and pro-rich. "Conditions for the poor have deteriorated significantly. The salaried class is bearing the entire tax burden, and poverty will further increase. "33 lakh (3.3 million) educated people have left Pakistan in the past three years. Each person who leaves takes about $30,000 with them, causing also a loss of foreign exchange." She said Imran Khan has instructed that K-P's budget will only be passed after his consultation with K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI leaders who are scheduled to meet him.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
No ECP appointments sans PM-Opp consultation: NA
PML-N-led coalition government in the Centre now has 229 members in the NA. PHOTO: APP The National Assembly Secretariat on Sunday clarified that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was being carried out in full compliance with constitutional requirements and parliamentary procedures. In response to recent media reports, the secretariat confirmed that National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has formally responded to a letter from Opposition Leader Omar Ayub regarding the appointments. "According to the spokesperson of the National Assembly, the constitutional and legal procedures for the formation of the parliamentary committee are being followed in letter and spirit. It was clarified that the first step in this process is mutual consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition," the statement clarified. According to the spokesperson for the National Assembly, the speaker, in his reply, outlined the constitutional and legal framework governing the formation of the parliamentary committee responsible for the appointments. He reminded the opposition leader that the first step in the entire process, as mandated by the Constitution, was mutual consultation between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. The speaker also referred to a letter dated May 16, 2025, sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the opposition leader, in which the premier had initiated the consultative process for the nominations. The spokesperson added that in the event that the PM and the opposition leader fail to reach a consensus on the names for the CEC or ECP members, the matter shall be referred to the speaker under Article 213(2A) of the Constitution.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Confusion reigns as PPP sends mixed signals on budget protest
Confusion continues to swirl within the PPP over its purported plans to stage a nationwide protest against the federal budget, as conflicting voices emerge from within the party's ranks. While some insiders deny any such plan, others maintain that a strategy was indeed in the works, but mainly being driven by the party's Punjab wing, as the central party has not been fully engaged in the decision. The Pakistan Peoples Party, whose senior leader Chaudhary Manzoor announced a countrywide protest against the budget draft, remains a key coalition partner in the federal government. Without its backing, the PML-N-led government would be left out on a limb. Any official protest call by the party's central leadership would signal a withdrawal of support for the finance bill, throwing the budget's passage into serious doubt. However, party leaders The Express Tribune spoke to suggested that Manzoor's call was more of a solo flight than a coordinated party line. While some leaders in central Punjab are rallying behind it, the move has not received a formal green light from the party's top brass. According to insiders, the protest plan was being shaped as an attempt to tap into the growing discontent among farmers and labourers who were being left high and dry by the government's policies. The party, by reaching out to farmers and labourers, would try to gather support before embarking on any protest plan, as it lacks sufficient muscle in Punjab to hit the roads without them. Senior Vice President Central Punjab Rana Farooq Saeed said they had not been informed by the party about any protest plan. He questioned under whose authority Manzoor had made the call. However, he added that the party does not approve of the budget, as it offered nothing for farmers and labourers. "It would be wrong to even call it a budget," he said. However, despite these reservations, the party has yet to take a formal decision. "Given that we are allies in the centre, we cannot give out impulsive statements against the budget," he said. Central Party General Secretary Hasan Murtaza avoided giving a direct answer regarding any party plans to hold a protest demonstration throughout the country. He said they were allies of the government and would try to knock some sense into the PML-N over the glaring discrepancies in the budget. If dialogue failed, he added, they would ultimately hit the roads. When asked if the central party had rejected the budget, which would mean the PPP would withhold support, he said that decision would be taken by the central leadership. However, he clarified that the party would not "stand in for PML-N's mistakes". "They will not carry their weight while they suck the life out of poor people and line their own pockets," he said. He listed several grievances, from the failure to renegotiate capacity payments to the taxation of solar panels. When asked about senior leader Naveed Qamar's acknowledgement of thorough consultation sessions with the PML-N on the budget, he responded that "consultation does not mean that their inputs are being incorporated". On Thursday, several media outlets reported that the PPP had rejected the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year and announced a nationwide protest campaign against it. The impression was formed after Chaudhary Manzoor Ahmad, who heads the PPP's People's Labour Bureau, lambasted the federal government at a press conference in Islamabad for presenting a budget that favours the wealthy and ignores the miseries of the working class and poor. The PPP leader said the party had started contacting trade unions across the country to mobilise support for protest demonstrations. He stated that demonstrations would be held in all provinces before the passage of the federal budget in the National Assembly. When senior PPP leader Naveed Qamar was asked to comment on the budget, he said the party recognised that the government was walking a tightrope under the IMF programme. However, he also said the government's policies were misaligned and that if the PPP were designing the budget, it would have been vastly different. At no point during the programme did he outright reject the budget or announce plans for protest rallies.
