PM Gilani says budget must be poor-friendly
09 June, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday directed the Finance Ministry to enhance revenue streams from both tax and non-tax sources to provide more resources for relief and rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and for meeting the defence and security needs of the country. He expressed these views while presiding over a high-level meeting at the Finance Ministry to review the forthcoming budget. Gilani emphasised that the forthcoming budget should incorporate pro-poor budgetary measures and must reflect priorities of the government. “The people have high expectations from the democratic government, therefore, the budget must focus on meeting the basic needs of the masses and their well-being,” he added. He directed the ministry that the budget speech should be in simple language so that it can be easily understood by the general public. Emphasising the importance of transparency in every aspect of financial transaction, Gilani asked the Finance Ministry to expedite the review of the PSDP funds so as to ensure maximum utilisation of funds for timely completion of development projects. Observing the delay in the release of funds earmarked for the ministries for various development projects, he directed the Finance Ministry to ensure timely release of funds so that development programmes could not suffer. The premier said macro-economic stability, widening of social protection net, promoting agriculture sector by increasing productivity and ensuring better return to farmers, industrial competitiveness by reviving the manufacturing sector through improved availability of energy supplies, better infrastructure and other incentives and infrastructure as well as social sector development were the priority areas of the government and all possible resources would be utilised to achieve these targets. He said the Finance Ministry had the key role to maximise revenues for meeting financial demands of various sectors of the economy. Underscoring the need for arresting inflationary trend, Gilani said high inflation was detrimental to the economy and the poor. He said while launching various pro-poor growth generating initiatives, it must be ensured that inflation was kept within acceptable limits. He said he was confident that his economic team would take necessary measures to revive growth and manage the economy in a professionally prudent manner. He also underscored the need for avoiding overlapping and duplication of work because this was not only the wastage of public money but also consumes precious time of the nation by causing delay in the completion of projects. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin and the finance secretary gave a detailed briefing to the premier on the forthcoming budget as well as the overall state of the national economy. Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar also attended the meeting. End.
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