The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF), raising its serious concerns over the federal budget 2020-21, termed it a conventional budget, as the government has not announced any initiative to promote business activities to retain jobs in the industry amidst worldwide corona pandemic.
PIAF Chairman Mian Nauman Kabir, in a joint statement with Senior Vice Chairman Nasir Hameed and Vice Chairman Javed Siddiqi, showing their disappointment over the budget presented by the Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar at the National Assembly, observed that the no plan was given in the budget that could promote business activities and help create more employment opportunities.
“If it’s a corona-based budget, no steps have been announced to tackle this serious issue,” he said and added that unrealistic targets of 2.1% GDP growth and 27% growth in revenue without any no new tax has been given in Budget, which cannot be achieved.
He said that the no financial plan has been placed for the Covid-19-hit domestic trade and industry, importers, exporters, small and medium enterprises who have been severely affected due to the prolonged lockdown. Mian Nauman Kabir said that the PIAF was expecting a relief-focused budget, with huge relaxation in utility tariffs to facilitate the documented and registered SMEs and the whole and industry.
