Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, criticised the opposition during the concluding session of the provincial budget debate in the Punjab Assembly, accusing the Leader of the Opposition of participating in five days of budget discussions without adequate preparation.
He said the opposition leader remained unaware of the actual allocations made for development projects.
Wrapping up the debate on the Punjab budget for the next fiscal year, the finance minister responded to a range of opposition claims while outlining the government’s financial achievements and welfare priorities. He said the provincial administration had demonstrated strong fiscal management throughout the current financial year.
According to Rehman, Punjab achieved significant progress in both development spending and revenue generation. He stated that 93 per cent of the development budget had been utilised, while 99pc of the provincial revenue target had been successfully met.
Detailing development initiatives, the minister said Rs556 billion had been allocated for 387 projects in south Punjab. In addition, Rs38bn has been earmarked for development works in the Katcha riverine regions. He further noted that welfare programmes would receive substantial funding, including Rs29bn for the Health Card scheme, Rs12.5bn for the Kisan Card initiative, and Rs5bn for the Dhee Rani Programme.
Addressing concerns regarding healthcare assistance, Rehman clarified that the Health Card programme had not been discontinued. Instead, he said, the scheme had been restructured to improve its effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Rejecting allegations of corruption levelled by the opposition, the minister described the accusations as unfounded. Referring to international assessments, he maintained that Pakistan’s standing on the corruption index had improved by four degrees over the past two years compared to the period of the previous Buzdar administration.
The finance minister also argued that Pakistan’s economic conditions would have been considerably better if the governments led by Nawaz Sharif had not been repeatedly removed from office.
Commenting on the prevailing political situation, Rehman stressed that the current administration had not pursued politically motivated cases against its opponents. Referring to the events of May 9, he remarked that the opposition did not attack the GHQ and Jinnah House at the government’s direction.
Concluding his speech, Rehman said the opposition’s political fortunes would remain unchanged unless its leaders sincerely and wholeheartedly apologise for the crimes committed on May 9.
