In the Balochistan Assembly session, a heated debate continued today for the second consecutive day between government and opposition members over the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The opposition termed the budget insufficient to address the province’s problems, while government members defended it, describing it as a balanced and people-friendly budget.
Taking the floor, opposition member and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, said that millions of children in Balochistan were deprived of education, while the province’s healthcare system was also extremely weak. He maintained that development could not be achieved merely through the construction of roads and buildings; rather, human development must be given priority. He further stated that Balochistan had not received its fair share from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other resources, and added that the province’s problems could not be resolved without eliminating corruption and the commission culture.
Provincial Assembly member Nawabzada Zareen Magsi, in his address, said that given the prevailing circumstances, a better and balanced budget had been prepared, which included important measures for the health sector. He added that authentic data was indispensable for effective policymaking and that, alongside development, the preparation of a skilled workforce was also essential. He further stated that Balochistan was facing various challenges, including terrorism, and therefore other provinces should also extend cooperation in this regard. He further remarked that Balochistan was a shared home for all, and that serious and collective efforts were needed to steer it out of crises.
On the other hand, Parliamentary Secretary Rababa Buledi defended the government’s budget, stating that despite limited resources and prevailing economic pressures, the government had succeeded in presenting a better budget. She said that the Iran-US tensions had also impacted Balochistan’s economy, and that despite receiving fewer funds from the federation, a balanced budget had been presented.