PML-N govt presented pro-people budget: minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said that the present PML-N government has presented pro-people budget in line with the vision and policies of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to media outside Parliament House, the federal minister said that relief has been provided to low-income segments of the society through various measures.

However, she said the next government will have every right to amend the budget to bring it in conformity with its policies and requirements.

She said that in a historic move, tax on import of cancer medicines has been abolished for the first time as budget was prepared keeping in view the requirements of the country.

She said that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has stated in the House that the government was presenting sixth budget in accordance with law and the constitution and the next government will have the right to amend it but being a people-friendly budget, it may not be possible to change it.

“The PML-N will get landslide victory and come to power again and continue with this very budget,” she remarked.

She added that the budget was presented in light of the mandate given to Nawaz Sharif in 2013 and it was presented as per law but some elements were trying to mislead the people through hue and cry and baseless propaganda.

She also criticised that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan for staying away from parliament on this important budget day, despite giving lectures about western democracy and values.

To a question, she said that the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lacked capacity and capability to present the next budget.

Castigating the behavior of the PTI members in the House, she said by climbing on the tables, they continued their tradition of sit-ins and bullying.

“Imran who claimed to root out corruption within ninety days, now after passage of five long years has again announced to give hundred days programme,” she wondered.

She said that Imran’s announcements always remain so as they never turned into reality, and the entire nation has witnessed how many legal requirements Imran Khan was fulfilling.

The minister said that prime minister after consultations with Nawaz Sharif gave the status of federal ministers to some ministers of state.  She said it was prerogative of the PM and the opposition parties should not be jealous of it.

She said that BISP and Prime Minister’s Health Programme have been extended to give relief to the poor, besides providing best transport facilities to students of the federal capital through the educational reforms programme.

Commenting on incentives given to the film industry, she said that the promotion of screen tourism through films, culture, and national heritage will help promote softer image of the country.

She said in the war of perception film, teleplays, culture, heritage and language needed to be promoted adding that Film Finance Fund, Artist Assistance fund have been established for this purpose.

She said that if the opposition protests remain inside the parliament, it is democratic practice but if it moves outside, it becomes undemocratic.  The minister congratulated the PML-N government over presentation of pro-people budget.

Earlier she congratulated newly appointed Finance Minister Miftah Ismail for presenting budget for financial year 2018-19.