Khursheed Shah for 25pc raise in govt employees' pay

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday demanded 25 percent raise in the salaries of government employees and 100 percent pay increase for police force.

Starting the debate on federal budget 2015-16 in the National Assembly, the opposition leader said in next year’s budget the government once again cried over having ‘nothing’ in its kitty.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-N government failed to fulfill its promises made in its manifesto in connection with ending power shortage in 6 months after taking the helm and increasing the budget allocations for education and health sectors.

He said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), during its previous rule, faced head-on challenges like terrorism, fiscal crunch, rising petrol prices and suo motto actions.

Khursheed Shah regretted that Nandipur project despite government investment that runs in billions failed to operate even for a single day.

He also demanded that Rs1500 distributed per family among the poor under Benazir Income Support Programme be increased to Rs2000 per month.

He said he had requested in writing to the Prime Minister to initiate some action over the grave issue of population. “Even today I demand that an all parties conference be convened on this issue,” he added.

The opposition leader regretted that the government squandered Rs46 billion on Metro bus project, adding, the same could have been spent for welfare of the poor.

“If the government is aiming at abolishing subsidy then what is the rationale behind provision of subsidy for Metro bus,” he questioned.

He said instead of releasing Rs16 billion for Green Line Bus project for Karachi, the government should disburse this amount for overcoming the issue of water shortage in the metropolis.

He said the Prime Minister should fulfill his promise of distributing 500,000 housing units to the poor.