A welcome move indeed

The sentiment that the government values the views of the people as is evident from the move to begin regional consultations for feedback and opinions ahead of preparing the national budget for the next fiscal year is indeed commendable and praiseworthy, especially from the adviser of an unelected and non-representative regime. But if past experience provides any indication, Mirza Aziz, or this government for that matter, has hardly shown much respect to the opinions of the citizens or stakeholders. During the budget-making process of the current financial year, there were similar consultations with a number of stakeholders including business bodies and lobbies that put forward a number of recommendations. But to the surprise of the entire business community, the finance adviser proposed sweeping tariff measures as if to ensure that industrialisation of the country is impeded. Mirza Aziz decreased import tariffs of numerous finished and consumer goods but increased tariffs for importing capital machinery and industrial raw material. It is widely presumed among different sections that the actions were taken entirely at the behest of certain lending agencies, disregarding the concerns of the local stakeholders. The sweeping tariff measures have had a dire impact on the poultry industry for instance, which saw its production cost rise by 33 per cent and had some 1 lakh farms shut down with some 5 lakh people becoming unemployed during the first half of this fiscal year. The apprehensions of a number of economists and a section of citizens at the time of presentation of the national budget are alarmingly coming true. It is hoped that this year there would be changes in the general attitude of the government in the sense that advisers pay more attention to the people of this country whom they serve. With the budget emerges the nagging question of subsidies, especially those for fertiliser and diesel, besides other necessities that have become crucial for the survival of the poorer sections of the people. Although the regime in general, and the finance adviser in particular, appears to have an inclination towards doing away with subsidies as much as possible for the sake of ‘fiscal discipline’ as the lending agencies would argue, it is expected that they would worry less about deficit and fiscal discipline and more about ensuring availability of essential food items at affordable prices on one hand and ensuring a reasonable level of employment for the masses on the other.

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