ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Friday passed the federal budget approving the finance bill 2019-20 to give effect to the financial proposals of the government.
The total outlay of the budget was Rs 7.022 trillion, focusing on fiscal consolidation, revenue mobilization, austerity measures and protection to the vulnerable segments of society.
At the start of the proceedings, Minister of State for Revenue and Finance Hammad Azhar moved the motion to present the finance bill before the house for consideration and voting.
After voice voting on the motion to introduce the bill, the opposition challenged the vote and asked the Speaker for a head count.
One hundred and seventy-six (176) members of treasury benches favoured the motion while 146 members of opposition opposed it.
After passage of the motion with majority vote, Minister for Revenue introduced the finance bill which was passed by the house with a majority of votes.
Members of National Assembly Shahida Rehmani, Abdul Qadir Patel, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif, Shazia Marri, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Shagufta Jumani, Dr Nafeesa Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Ali Pervaiz, Shahida Akhtar Ali and others moved amendments in the finance bill.
The amendments were related to changes in tax rates and finance bill, tax exemptions and abolition of interest on bonds.
The treasury benches rejected almost all the amendments to the finance bill moved by the opposition members after discussion on them by both sides.
While amendments moved by Minister for Finance and Revenue were adopted by the house.
The Prime Minister along with federal ministers of PTI and allied parties sat through the session spread over many hours while opposition led by Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the session with full strength.
During the voting, Speaker NA Asad Qaiser on various occasions urged the members to refrain from raising slogans, observe decorum of the house and desist from making videos from their mobile phones.
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