Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again invited the Opposition parties to come forward and agree on a “Charter of Democracy”, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing the National Assembly’s budget session on Saturday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said “I am ready to take a step forward and I want you to come to my house tea.”
Shehbaz Sharif once again invited opposition leaders in the parliament to engage in talks, stressing that democratic values could only be strengthened by resolving differences through dialogue. He recalled that he had repeatedly proposed charters of democracy and economy in the past, but his sincere offers were turned down.
He said that he continued to hold respect for opposition leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Barrister Gohar Khan. “I am available. It is never too late to mend,” Shehbaz Sharif maintained while addressing the opposition benches.
Shehbaz Sharif affirmed the government’s commitment to contribute to the development of all provinces.
Delivering his speech a day after the federal budget was unveiled, the prime minister maintained that he would not give a “detailed response” to the criticism voiced by Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, but at an appropriate time.
Earlier, Achakzai had spoken mostly on the country’s law and order situation, slamming the government’s decision to freeze the development allocations for the provinces, contending that it would hit their health and social sectors.
Noting that all MNAs were immensely respectable and the legislature was akin to a “house”, Shehbaz Sharif said, “Each one can have their politics and vision, but one thing that this House will always attest to is that we are here if Pakistan is.”
“There is no difference of opinion on this,” he said, recalling Achakzai’s assertion that the provinces had the right to their financial resources.
Recalling various projects that had been carried out in Balochistan, he said, “You did not demand this, nor did someone else. But as the prime minister of Pakistan, it is my responsibility to do my best so that all four provinces are at the same level in the race to progress.”
“If this will be our collective desire and practical attempt, then this is among the possibilities,” he said and highlighted the “shares of the people of Balochistan” in the Reko Diq project and the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award in which the province’s share was doubled.
Shehbaz Sharif remarked he was saying this not to “taunt any favour but just to remind that even a house cannot function without financial and social justice”.
The prime minister also recalled the distribution of solar panels to the farmers of Balochistan, adding, “This is a tale of brotherhood.”
He said the members in the house belonged to all parts of the country and this esteemed house is likened to a home, accommodating people from the four provinces. He opined that their visions, thoughts and politics might differ, but to make Pakistan stronger and enhance its esteem among the comity of nations, they must give the message that they would thrive if the country exists.
Referring to a remark of the leader of the opposition, Shehbaz Sharif said that inhabitants of the respective provinces had their due rights over provincial economic resources, and there was no dispute.
Citing the Reko Diq agreement, he said it was reached in consultations with the provincial leadership and the residents. Terming it as ‘a bright example’, he further said that during 2010, a historic NFC award was reached in which the share of Balochistan had been enhanced by 100 percent.
Punjab had allocated the major share at that time by earmarking Rs11 billion rupees annually, he said, adding other provinces also contributed.
Shehbaz Sharif said Rs75 billion had been allocated for the solarization in the province, which benefited farmers, while from Gwadar to Chaman, a road was being constructed for 300 billion rupees. He said the demand for the road was not made by the opposition leader, but considering it as his responsibility as the prime minister, he approved its construction. It was the onus of his office that all the provinces should equally move on the path of progress and prosperity.
He, expressing grief over the martyrdom of 22 security personnel in a helicopter crash incident, said that the two crew members belonged to the Christian community. He said terrorism in Balochistan was being supported by foreign hands and they had proved their involvement with solid evidence.
To another point of the opposition leader, Shehbaz Sharif justified the fencing of the Durand Line, for the security of the people and the country, and said that it was the right decision. “If a child’s life in the country is saved, he considers spending an amount on border fencing justified,” he added.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been affected by terrorism, where personnel of law enforcement agencies, security forces and armed forces were facing it bravely and sacrificing their lives. “They left their children orphans but saved millions of children of the nation,” he stressed.
Shehbaz Sharif said that if they did not pay due respect to their shuhada, future generations would not forgive them. "We collectively owe to their sacrifices; therefore, we should pay homage to martyrs," he added.
PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat has said that the masses was trying to find relief in the federal government budget but it was not seen.
Addressing the National Assembly during budget session, Sher Afzal Marwat said that the world was moving towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) but the government has failed to focus on it. He told the NA that law and order situation in merged districts of KP was aggravating day by day. He said that overseas Pakistanis were also ignored in the budget.
MNA Nisar Jutt said that poor class has been totally ignored rather they have been further burdened. He said that industry was closing and the government has no future growth agenda. He said that small industry was being destroyed intentionally.
MNA Jamal Raisani said that Balochistan was being deprived of its basic rights. He demanded that the youth of Balochistan does not zakat rather they need basic right including schools, colleges, roads, peace and progress ad digital technology. He said that Quetta city was facing water crisis. He lamented that basic issues were not discussed in the budget.
MNA Jamal Raisani said Balochistan was granted Aghaz-e-Haqooq package but no packages was given for the resolution of Balochistan issue. PTI MNA Riaz Fatyana said that unemployment was rising in the country. He said that government has ignored AI sector in the budget. He urged the government to focus on agriculture. MNA Sher Ali Shahi urged the government to support farmers and too measures to eradicate inflation. He lamented that PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi were being kept in solitary confinement.
Later Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq postponed the session till 11 am on Monday.