Jamaat-e-Islami rejects federal budget, terms it elitist and anti-people

Express Tribune

2 days ago

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Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, has strongly rejected the federal budget, branding it a 'pro-elite document' that exacerbates poverty, inflation, and inequality.
Addressing a press conference at Mansoora on Wednesday, he said the government has failed to provide relief to the common man, choosing instead to favor the ruling class and privileged segments of society.
"The budget imposes a heavy tax burden on the salaried and middle-income groups while offering no meaningful concessions or structural reforms," he said.
He termed claims of poverty reduction by the government as "delusional" and "contrary to ground realities," noting that over 110 million Pakistanis continue to live below the poverty line.
Hafiz Naeem accused the government of mismanaging the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), alleging it has become a tool of political manipulation and corruption, particularly in Sindh.
Rs700 billion allocated for poverty alleviation is being used for corrupt practices. This misuse must be investigated and those responsible punished," he asserted.
He argued that if these funds were invested in IT education, Pakistan's IT industry revenues could have surpassed Rs300 billion.
Criticising the deteriorating state of education, he highlighted that nearly 29.2 million children remain out of school, while 'ghost schools' continue to drain public funds through fraudulent means.
He lamented the lack of investment in education despite repeated claims of an 'education emergency.'
Speaking on taxation, Hafiz Naeem revealed that the salaried class contributed Rs 499 billion in taxes this year, yet received no relief.
He called for complete tax exemption for salaried workers and condemned the fact that 111 departments, including military-run organizations and private entities like Zia Hospital, are exempted from taxes while the poor are burdened with inflated utility bills.
He sharply criticised the recent 600% increase in the salaries of the National Assembly Speaker and Senate Chairman, questioning the silence of government officials on the matter.
He also denounced the imposition of an 11% tax on solar energy systems, calling it a violation of environmental and energy conservation commitments.
"The government and opposition only pretend to be adversaries, but unite when it comes to enhancing their perks and privileges," he stated.
Commenting on the economy, Hafiz Naeem said the country's current growth rate of 0.45% reflects policy failures, especially the "anti-farmer measures" taken by successive governments.
He criticized agriculture credit schemes as "publicity stunts" that do not deliver real support to farmers, and pointed to a 30% decline in cotton cultivation as a consequence of neglectful policies.
He described the ongoing use of outdated tools like Form 47 as emblematic of the systemic rot in agricultural governance.
He further alleged that public funds are being collected through excessive taxation without any tangible benefits in return, whether in education, health, or public safety.
Referring to Independent Power Producer (IPP) agreements, he said that promises of reduced electricity tariffs remain unfulfilled, while increases in petroleum levies amount to 'daylight robbery' from citizens' pockets.
"The government has conceded that it may fall short of revenue targets by Rs1,500 billion and intends to impose an additional Rs 500 billion in taxes. What then is the logic behind such a budget?" he asked.
Citing debt figures, Hafiz Naeem said every Pakistani now owes Rs76,000, with Rs5 trillion out of Rs11 trillion in total debt servicing going towards interest payments. "If interest rates were halved, it would significantly reduce electricity and gas prices," he added.
He called the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) a "hub of corruption," advocating for deep institutional reforms or even the disbanding of the FBR to improve tax collection and eliminate debt dependency. He accused the FBR of using threats of anti-corruption action to facilitate further corruption.
Demanding a reduction in civil and military privileges, he urged the government to redirect national resources toward the genuine needs of the people, especially defense requirements rooted in strategic necessity, not extravagance.
Reaffirming his support for farmers, Hafiz Naeem announced a campaign against injustices faced by the agrarian community, citing previous success in securing reduced electricity tariffs following public pressure against IPPs.
On foreign affairs, he alleged that India's intelligence agency, RAW, is involved in sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan. "There can be no negotiations with entities complicit in terrorism," he stressed.
He also urged Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to pursue serious diplomatic efforts on the Kashmir issue and demanded a clear and principled stance from the Pakistani government against US and Israeli policies.