Condemning the ‘unruly behaviour’ by some members of the opposition during the Sindh Assembly’s (SA) budget session yesterday (Tuesday), Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) did not believe in democracy, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing the post-budget press conference in Karachi, he accused the MPAs belonging to the PTI of not only shouting abuses at members of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) but also engaging in a scuffle with them. “If the opposition wants to ask us questions inside the House, we are ready to give answers,” he said, and added, “However, we will not tolerate such behavior in future.” 

He was of the view that the PTI wanted to create Punjab Assembly like situation in the SA as well as whenever members of the government start making speeches, those sitting on the opposition started making noise. 

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Murad claimed that the PTI had neglected Sindh during its over three-year period of rule. “We, on the contrary, have levied no new tax in the budget presented yesterday,” he said, adding, “Record number of development projects have been proposed in the budget for the next financial year.” 

Apart from that, Sindh CM went on to add, in order to ensure the growth of the IT sector, the provincial government had reduced the tax rate from 13 to three per cent.  

He further said that special emphasis had been laid in the budget on ‘social protection’. “We have proposed a grant of Rs30 billion for the education sector,” he informed.

Besides that, Murad said, amounts had also been allocated in the budget for the welfare of special children.  

“Similarly, Rs236 billion have been reserved for school education,” the chief minister elaborated.  

“Tax on the entertainment industry as well as the cotton fee have been waived off,” he informed. 

At the same time, he added, the Sindh government had announced subsidy on fertilizers. “Total Rs17 billion have been allocated for the agriculture sector in the budget,” he added. 

Murad informed that the provincial government planned to build a university in Thar.  

He told media men that the reason for not levying tax on the agriculture sector was to facilitate masses. 

The CM, however, admitted that currently the inflation rate in the country stood at 13 per cent.

Reporter: Iqtidar Anwar