ISLAMABAD: Secretary Information Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Shazia Marri on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over certain budgetary allocations and figures in the federal budget, saying the government should adhere to the commitments made with provinces regarding resource distribution and contributions towards national security.
Speaking about the party’s reservations on the budget in a media interaction, Marri said that after extensive meetings and discussions, the federation and provinces had reached an understanding that all provinces would contribute, according to their capacity, towards national security and defence requirements.
She said the federal government had informed the provinces that it could not provide additional funds due to limited revenue-generation capacity, following which the provinces agreed, in accordance with the Constitution, to make grants based on their respective financial capabilities.
Referring to the prevailing regional security situation and recent Indian aggression, Marri said strengthening the country’s defence had become imperative. She noted that the PPP-led governments in Sindh and Balochistan had already made their agreed contributions. “When the federal government sat with us and developed an understanding, there is no benefit in disturbing that arrangement now. It only creates unpleasantness,” she said.
She further said the budget was being presented under challenging circumstances and stressed that the government should remain committed to the assurances it had previously given.
Marri added that the PPP had maintained a productive working relationship with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government over the past 15 months and had not expected issues that had already been settled to resurface. “The developments we are witnessing are concerning,” she said, expressing hope that PM Sharif would personally address and resolve the PPP’s reservations. The PPP leader said the party had formally conveyed its concerns to the government.
