LAHORE:Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab has criticised the provincial budget, stating that it is disappointing and does not address the issues of the common people.
Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah, Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab Emir M Javed Kasuri, along with Dr Babar Rasheed, Zikrullah Mujahid, M Farooq Chauhan and Imran-ul-Haq, said that the rulers have ‘mortgaged’ the national economy to the IMF.
He said the Punjab budget reflects a reduction in allocations for education, health, and agriculture, while no effective strategy has been presented for relief to workers, farmers, employees, pensioners, youth, and small business owners.
He added that rising inflation, unemployment, and economic pressure are worsening public conditions, while development claims are based only on figures rather than real improvement.JI Punjab Emir stated that the farmers are facing rising costs of fertilizer, seeds, electricity, and agricultural inputs, while industrial closures due to high costs are increasing unemployment. Concerns were also raised over outsourcing in education and lack of facilities in public hospitals.
Kasuri further said that no clear roadmap has been presented for eliminating interest-based economic systems, and that benefits of global oil price reductions are not being passed on to the public due to taxes and petroleum levy.The party demanded immediate review of the budget and announced relief measures for farmers, labourers, employees, pensioners, youth, and industrial sectors.
