- Opposition and treasury lawmakers clash over the tax implications of the 2024-25 provincial budget.
- Opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar criticizes the budget, questioning the government’s tax-free claims.
- Bhachar highlights revenue gaps, failures in programs, and challenges faced by farmers, while PMLN lawmakers defend the budget and call for concrete solutions.
The provincial assembly witnessed heated exchanges as opposition and treasury lawmakers clashed over the tax implications of the recently presented budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. The debate, marked by fiery rhetoric and contrasting views, highlighted the challenges and controversies surrounding the budgetary decisions.
Opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar, representing the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), led the charge against the budget’s purported tax-free status. Bhachar’s critique centered on the government’s claims, dismissing them as mere “play on words” and raising questions about the budget’s actual impact on taxpayers.
Bhachar pointed out significant gaps in revenue, questioning the feasibility of labeling the budget as tax-free when it relies heavily on tax revenue, leaving a substantial deficit. He also criticized the government’s handling of various programs, citing failures in initiatives like the “Ramzan Nigehban Program” and expressing concerns about the plight of Punjab’s farmers.
In response, PMLN lawmakers, including MPA Shokat Raja, defended the budget, initially praising it and later calling for concrete measures to address the challenges faced by different sectors and regions. The clash of perspectives led to intense debates and calls for accountability and transparency in budgetary allocations and expenditures.
The session also saw senior SIC member Rana Aftab raising concerns over the signing of the defamation bill 2024 by then-acting government official Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. This raised questions about moral authority and legislative processes within the assembly, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions and debates.