Miftah Ismail presents sixth budget of PML-N govt amid Opp walkout

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Miftah Ismail, who earlier in the day took oath as finance minister, presented the sixth budget of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government on Thursday, having an outlay of Rs5.932 trillion. The budget outlined an expenditure of Rs 5.246 trillion. The tax revenue and the FBR collection targets were set at Rs 4.88 trillion and Rs 4.435 trillion, respectively. The budget allocates Rs 1.067 trillion for development. Defence Affairs and Services will receive Rs 1.1 trillion. The Federal Public Sector Development Programme and interest payments were set at Rs 800 billion and Rs 1.62 trillion, respectively. Ismail said that the 3.8 per cent growth in the agriculture sector was the highest so far. He said crop productivity had remained high. He said the Kissan Package announced by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had helped rice and wheat cultivators. The minister said inflation had come down from 12 per cent in 2013 to 5.8 per cent today. He said Rs 342 billion had been set aside for pensions and Rs 174 billion for subsidies. Earlier, Miftah Ismail started the budget speech with the slogans of ‘shame, shame’ from the opposition. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah announced to stage the walkout from the House over the issue of presenting the budget by an elected person. “The next government will have the power to amend the budget,” he said. The PTI MNAs tore the budget copies in front of the dais of the speaker. The opposition members also chanted the slogans of ‘respect the voter’. During the speech, State Minister for Power Abid Sher Ali exchanged hot words with PTI MNA Shireen Mizari.