Both the Houses of Parliament continued debate on the Federal Budget for the next fiscal year today.

Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal has said provinces are getting 56 percent extra funds under the new mechanism.

Winding up debate on budget for next fiscal year, he said provinces are getting one billion rupees from the federal government on daily basis. He said provinces are also collecting a good amount from provincial taxes and Sindh is taking the lead in this regard.

The Minister of State said GDP growth rate of 5.8 per cent, tax to GDP rate 13.2 per cent and revenue collection by FBR have reached four trillion rupees. Rana Afzal said PSDP of provinces has gone up three times high. He said inflation remained 3.8 this year as compared to 11 to 17 percent in the past.

Rana Muhammad Afzal said the government gave a boost to agriculture by giving subsidies on fertilizers, agriculture credit, and agriculture package.

He said 12000 megawatts of electricity was added to the national grid enabling the government to provide uninterrupted power to the industry.

Rana Muhammad Afzal said exports are rebounding after facing many challenges in recent years.

The Minister of State said per capita income has increased 1,29000 to 1,80000 rupees due to prudent income policies of the government.

He said industry, agriculture and service sectors have shown tremendous growth during last five years. He stressed the need to consolidate positive impacts of CPEC in future.

Rana Muhammad Afzal said tax exemptions announced in the budget will cost 80 billion rupees to the government which will be compensated from the higher tax collection of four trillion rupees. He said reduced taxes will be an incentive to business community.

Rana Muhammad Afzal said we have increased the house ceiling by 50 percent in order to resolve the problem of housing for government employees.

Regarding amnesty scheme, he said the major beneficiaries of this scheme are ordinary Pakistanis who have either invested in real estate sector or they went abroad due to a number of problems they faced in the country.

He assured the house that funds have been allocated for the Western route of CPEC and it would be completed by June this year.

Minister of State for Finance said allocation of FATA is 100 billion rupees for ten years and this year ten billion rupees will go for infrastructure development in the region.

He said small dams for Balochistan are essential but the provincial government needs to come up with concrete projects in this sector in order to address the issue of water level depletion.

Senators have called for more powers for the Upper House.

========= On a point of order, they said that Senate’s power should be equal to that of the National Assembly.

The chair remarked that the government should implement Senate’s recommendations, especially on budget and PSDP in letter and in spirit.

Those, who spoke on the occasion include Sherry Rehman, Usman Khan Kakar, Anwarul Haq Kakar, Farooq H Naek, Abdul Qayyum, Sikandar Mandhro, Rehman Malik, Mushtaq Ahmad, Sassui Palijo, Talha Mehmood, Mir Kabeer Shahi, Imamudin Shouqeen, and Mohsin Aziz.

The National Assembly today continued debate on the Federal Budget for the next fiscal year.

Participating in the budget debate, Qari Muhammad Yousaf said an interest free financial system should be enforced to take forward the country on the path of development. Shehryar Khan Afridi said that special emphasis should be laid on the development of FATA to address the grievances of tribal people.

Describing the budget pro rich, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani said minimum wage should be enhanced keeping in view the price hike.

Retired Captain Safdar said the present government rid the country of terrorism and power shortages.

Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour described ten percent increase in salaries as meagre suggesting the government to enhance the salaries by at least twenty per cent. He said FATA should be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the earliest.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the tribal people should be taken into confidence on FATA reforms. He said regional languages should be promoted besides enhancing allocations for health and education sectors.

Mian Abdul Manan appreciated budgetary proposals pertaining to reduction in sales tax on fertilizers as well as enhancement in agri loans.

Iftikhar Uddin said the present government has completed projects such as Golan Gol hydropower and Lowari Tunnel which were facing delays over the last many years.

Junaid Akbar Khan said it is responsibility of all the political parties to introduce internal democracy in their ranks and bring forward only talented and genuine leaders before the masses who could serve the country with dedication and honesty.

Nafeesa Shah said Pakistani companies should be given level playing field in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project to reap the true benefits of the mega project.

Naseema Hafeez Panezi said steps need to be taken to address root causes of sectarianism and to promote religious harmony.

Dr Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon said new provinces should be carved out on administrative basis in order to ensure good governance.

Zahra Wadood Fatemi said the government has presented people, business and agriculture friendly budget.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khurshid Shah has called for convening a meeting of the political parties to discuss scarcity of water in the country. He was speaking in the National Assembly today.

The Opposition Leader also voiced concerns over the release of the accused in Benazir Bhutto murder case. He said the murder of Benazir Bhutto was a loss not only to PPP, but the entire country and the Muslim world.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said Benazir Bhutto was a leader of international stature and we want justice done in the case.

The chair said a letter should be written to the judiciary to acquaint it about the concerns of the house on the proceedings of Benazir Bhutto murder case.

Law Minister Chaudhary Mahmood Bashir Virk also expressed concern over the release of the accused in Benazir Bhutto murder case.

Minister for Law and Justice Chaudhary Mahmood Bashir Virk laid before the house the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

The chair referred the bill to the standing committee concerned.