The National Assembly passed all the demands for grants pertaining to different ministries and departments for the next fiscal year.

No cut motion was moved by the opposition parties on these demands for grants.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail moved before the House “The Finance Bill, 2018 to give legal effect to the budgetary proposals for the next fiscal year.

Speaking on the finance bill, Naveed Qamar of PPP strongly criticized the government for increasing the burden of indirect taxes on the common man.

Responding to the points of the opposition members on the Finance Bill, 2018, Miftah Ismail said that the budget deficit will remain 4.9 percent during the next fiscal year.

He said steps have also been taken to reduce the trade deficit. He said exports and remittances are witnessing an upsurge while the export package has also contributed to increase the country’s exports.

He once again clarified that no increase has been made in the rate of petroleum development levy.

The Finance Minister said the government has substantially reduced the income tax.

He said the tax payers in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and the provinces will also be brought in active tax payer’s list. He said that sales tax on all the fertilizers has been reduced to two percent from seventeen percent.

As the Chair started clause by clause reading of the Finance Bill 2018, Shaugfta Jamani of PPP pointed out quorum.

On counting the House was not found in order and the chair adjourned the proceedings of the house till tomorrow (Friday) morning at ten.

The National Assembly also offered ‘Fateha’ for the departed souls of Colonel Sohail Abid embracing martyrdom in Balochistan and for innocent Palestinians who were martyred in Gaza by Israeli troops.