Former finance minister Asad Umar hits out at PTI government over budget 2019 discrepancies
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ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Asad Umar hits out at PTI government over budget 2019 discrepancies.
Former finance minister Asad Umar on Thursday criticised measures taken by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government in the federal budget, asking it to reconsider taxes imposed on essential food items.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Umar expressed reservations on the first federal budget presented by his own party's government.
"Tax on sugar has been raised. Prices of sugar have already risen at an alarming rate, and I think this should also be investigated," said the former finance minister, adding that it was inapporiate to raise tax on sugar when price had already risen at an alarming rate.
"This tax is not appropriate; I think this should be withdrawn. And I believe it should also be investigated why sugar prices are rising at such a rate," he said.
The former finance minister further urged the PM's Adviser on Finace Dr Abdul Hafeexz Sheikh to take back taxes on edible oil and ghee.
Umar said there were several problems in the economy that have been there for a long time.
