NA passes federal budget 2021-22 with majority vote

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The federal budget 2021-22 sailed through the National Assembly on Tuesday with majority vote after ten business days long debate which at its onset saw some distasteful moments after treasury and opposition benches came close to blows.

Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin moved the Finance Bill, 2021 in the House following which the opposition lawmakers debated it. A total of 172 lawmakers voted in favour of the motion while 138 lawmakers opposed it. The motion was passed with a majority vote which led to the passage of the Finance Bill, 2021, after clause by clause reading as well as voice voting along with amendments.

The bail sailed through the House despite the threats of opposition, who vowed to block it. It followed intense acrimony on the floor of the House for three consecutive days, in which treasury and opposition lawmakers slugged it in the halls of the building.

Earlier, around 240 lawmakers participated in the budget debate which formally continued from June 14 to June 24, 2021 (10 working days), while a total of 128 demands for grants were also approved. According to the Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007, not less than four days shall be allotted for the general discussion on the budget. However, the National Assembly continued debate on the finance bill, 2021 for 10 days.

The National Assembly could not initiate debate for three consecutive days (June 14 to June 16, 2021) due to a ruckus in the House and tussle between the treasury and the opposition benches. The formal debate started on June 17, 2021 and it continued till June 24, 2021. The House also discussed recommendations of the Senate and 12 lawmakers expressed their views on it.

The finance minister concluded the debate on Finance Bill, 2021 on June 25, 2021. The House held a discussion on the Charged Expenditure included in Demands for Grants and Appropriations for the financial year ending on June 30, 2022. The House approved 128 demands for grants related to various departments and ministries.

Detained leaders including Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah and Ali Wazir also attended the sitting on Tuesday after issuance of their production orders by the Speaker. They, too, participated in the debate on Finance Bill, 2021. Nine other lawmakers also spoke on the finance bill and demanded it to be made people friendly and indirect taxes to be reduced.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also attended the sitting and the House passed the Finance Bill, 2021 after clause by clause reading. The total volume of the federal budget for fiscal year 2021-22 is Rs8.48 trillion with allocation of Rs2,135 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) — an increase of 37 per cent from last year’s development allocations.

In the budget, Rs900 billion is earmarked for federal PSDP, Rs12 billion for agriculture sector, Rs118 billion for power distribution, Rs61 billion for Viability Gap Fund, Rs14 billion for Climate Change mitigation projects, Rs100 billion for Covid-19 Emergency Fund and Rs12 billion special grant for Sindh. Similarly, an amount of $1.1 billion is specified for vaccine procurement and Rs66 billion for Higher Education Commission for education programs and Rs44 billion under the development fund in the budget.

Later, the House was adjourned to meet again today (Wednesday) at 11.30am local time. The House will further consider supplementary demands for grants following which the budget session will be prorogued sine die.