Finance Bill Tabled in Senate Amid Opposition Protests 2024!

Islamabad:

The government presented the Finance Bill 2024 in the Senate on Tuesday, following its earlier submission to the National Assembly. The session saw considerable opposition from PTI lawmakers who protested loudly against the ruling coalition.

Presentation of the Finance Bill

• Event: The Senate session, chaired by Yousuf Raza Gilani, witnessed the introduction of the Finance Bill 2024.
• Presenter: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the bill, which includes the annual budget statement.

Opposition’s Reaction

• Key Speaker: PTI’s Senator Shibli Faraz, Leader of the Opposition, criticized the budget.
• Concerns Raised:
• Faraz claimed the budget would heavily burden the poor with numerous taxes.
• He argued that the new budget would worsen the situation for people already struggling with high inflation.

Government’s Response

1. Speaker: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who also oversees the foreign ministry, responded to the opposition.
2. Points Addressed:
3. Dar acknowledged the opposition’s concerns but emphasized the need for a constructive debate in the Senate.
4. He questioned whether salaries and pensions should not be increased during times of severe inflation.
5. He called for healthy criticism and practical suggestions rather than mere political point-scoring.

Session Dynamics

• Senate Chairman’s Role: Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani requested Senator Faraz to maintain calm to ensure the session could proceed smoothly.

Summary

The presentation of the Finance Bill 2024 in the Senate stirred significant opposition from PTI members, who argued that the proposed budget would unfairly impact the poor and worsen inflation issues. In contrast, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar defended the budget, urging for constructive feedback and highlighting the necessity of salary and pension increases amidst economic challenges. The session underscored the tensions between the ruling coalition and the opposition but also emphasized the need for a balanced debate on the proposed financial measures.

References:

• Original reporting from the Senate session on the Finance Bill 2024.