ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati told the Senate on Friday that the government will fully support inquiry into the death of former Senator Usman Khan Kakar.
Responding to point of order in the House, he said government will provide all resources to investigate the matter. Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen suggested forming an inquiry commission to probe the death of Usman Khan Kakar.
The Senate also offered fateha for the martyred soldiers of Frontier Corps in Sibbi. Senator Atta-ur-Rehman led the prayer. The House held discussion on the budget 2021-22. Participating in the discussion, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari said people of Karachi are thankful to the federal government for providing funds for development of the city. He said Karachi is a business of the country but it was ignored in the past.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed in his remarks said Pakistan has a strategic location and given the situation in the region, we should move forward prudently. Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir said due to prudent policies of government export of the country is continuously increasing.
Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said this budget is based on the directions of the International Monetary Fund. He said a ten percent increase in salaries is not enough against this unprecedented price hike.
Winding up debate on the budget 2021-22 in the Senate, Minister of Finance Shaukat Tarin said no new taxes have been imposed in the budget. He said he did not agree to the IMF’s demands for certain new taxes in the budget, including 150 billion rupees income tax.
The Minister said Federal Board of Revenue will not harass the defaulters and a third party audit will be carried out before arresting defaulters. He said the government is taking steps to bring another fifteen million people into the tax net. Shaukat Tarin said tax on food items has been removed. He assured the House to incorporate its recommendations in the budget. The House has now been prorogued