Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, emphasized the need to support solar and renewable energy and to counteract the activities of opposing lobbies. He urged the Prime Minister to take decisive action against these powerful lobbies, assuring that the PPP would fully support the Prime Minister in such endeavors.
Bilawal said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Pakistan’s financial machine can’t coexist, affirming the necessity to abolish NAB. He advised that in region of subsidizing fertilizer factories, the government have to provide direct subsidies to farmers. Highlighting the actual issues confronted through Pakistan. He pointed out that the general public is more worried with fundamental requirements like meals, clothing, and shelter instead of political differences or who’s in prison. The U S A, number one demanding situations are the economic crisis, poverty, and growing inflation.
Addressing the National Assembly during the discussion on the federal budget for 2024-2025, Bilawal mentioned that initiatives like the 18th Amendment and the Benazir Income Support Program were under threat from the “Bajwa Doctrine.” He advocated for addressing the energy crisis using local resources and supported the idea of a charter of the economy, proposed by the Prime Minister, to solve Pakistan’s long-term issues.
Bilawal on Tax Reform and Subsidies
Bilawal emphasized expanding the tax base through direct taxation to avoid burdening the common man with indirect taxes. He proposed that sales tax collection should be assigned to provinces, allowing them to meet federal targets independently. Any province exceeding its target should retain the surplus. He reiterated the need to redirect subsidies from fertilizer factories to direct farmer support and stressed the importance of investment in climate change mitigation.
Furthermore, Bilawal called for supporting solar and renewable energy and preventing obstructive lobbies from hindering progress. He cited extreme heat and long power outages in his constituency as reasons for promoting solar energy. Suggesting that the federal government could alleviate load shedding by enhancing solar energy use. He also proposed establishing IT parks across the country through public-private partnerships.
In conclusion, Bilawal assured the government of PPP’s support in combating inflation and reviving the national economy. Emphasizing the importance of collective effort in addressing these critical issues.
