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Senate Budget Session Sees Low Turnout, Senators Slam Govt’s ‘Anti-People’ Policies
Only 5 senators show up as the budget session continues in a near-empty Senate. Lawmakers lash out at govt for neglecting health, education, Karachi, & solar taxes.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-17
Senate Budget Session Sees Low Turnout, Senators Slam Govt’s ‘Anti-People’ Policies

The ongoing budget session in the Senate of Pakistan laid bare a shocking level of disinterest from both government and opposition benches, with only five members present during crucial debates on fiscal policies and national expenditures.

Three senators were present on the government benches, while only two opposition members attended. Notably, no federal minister was present, and key figures from major political parties, including the Leader of the Opposition, were also absent.

The session, however, did not lack fiery criticism and serious concerns raised by attending members:

 

🔹 Key Highlights from the Debate:

·       Senator Kamran Murtaza condemned the abduction of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s son, calling it damaging to national unity and likening the discrimination between filers and non-filers to that between “Muslims and infidels.”

·       Senator Mohsin Aziz (PTI) blasted the ruling parties for blaming PTI's 3.5-year rule while ignoring their own 40-year history of governance, claiming PTI's tenure saw record exports and a stable dollar. He also criticized the neglect of health and education.

·       Senator Waqar Mehdi (PPP) declared the budget not people-friendly and sarcastically invited the Finance Minister to spend a day with daily wage laborers. He defended Bilawal Bhutto’s foreign policy achievements.

·       Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti raised concerns over the FBR’s extended powers and warned that the brunt of the tax burden would fall on Karachi, calling the Rs 15 billion budget for the metropolis insufficient.

·       Senator Zameer Hussain Ghumro condemned the unequal budget distribution and proposed abolishing the Ministry of Housing and Works and allocating hydel profits to KP.

·       Aimal Wali Khan criticized the government for losing economic sovereignty, stating the budget had “snatched the right to live from 60% of Pakistanis,” and exposed a 600% raise in ministers’ salaries, which even the Prime Minister was unaware of.

·       Senator Aun Abbas Bappi slammed the failure to issue a production order for Ijaz Chaudhry, and lamented that 4 million tons of wheat are going to waste while the agriculture sector grows at only 0.6%.

·       Senator Bilal Ahmed denounced the budget as pro-elite, arguing it only favored the privileged class, and called the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway allocation of Rs 15 billion a “joke.”

·       Senator Abdul Shakoor (JUI-F) criticized the Benazir Income Support Program, suggesting easy employment for women instead. He also opposed the solar tax and slammed absentee senators, demanding their salaries be withheld.

 

🔹 A House in Disarray

The informal and disheartened tone of the session raised questions over the seriousness with which elected representatives are treating the national budget. The widespread absence and lack of participation from both sides of the aisle underscored growing public concern over political apathy, even as citizens face rising inflation, job insecurity, and dwindling public services.

 
Tagged:

FBRReforms

Budget2025

PakistanSenate

KarachiNeglected
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