STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : President of Pakistan Hindkowan Tehreek, Akbar Sethi, has urged the government to ensure that the upcoming federal budget is not merely a collection of figures but a people-friendly package that provides genuine and practical relief to citizens suffering from inflation, unemployment, and economic hardships.
He said the government should review all agreements made with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and immediately terminate those that are against the national interest in order to reduce the cost of electricity generation. He stressed that electricity tariffs should be uniform across the country and uninterrupted power supply should be ensured round the clock. He further demanded that the per-unit electricity rate be reduced to the lowest possible level to provide relief to domestic consumers, businesses, and industries.
Akbar Sethi also called for an end to gas load-shedding and demanded uninterrupted gas supply throughout the country. He urged the government to significantly reduce gas tariffs and make them uniform nationwide so that both consumers and industries can benefit.
He further demanded that the price of petroleum products be capped at Rs200 per litre, stating that rising fuel prices are one of the main causes of inflation. He noted that prices of essential food items have already surged ahead of the budget, while no effective mechanism is visible to control the increasing cost of living.
The President of Pakistan Hindkowan Tehreek emphasized that the budget should prioritize development projects that offer long-term benefits to the country and contribute to strengthening the national economy. He urged the government to revive closed factories, industries, and mills and provide them with special tax incentives to restore industrial activity and create employment opportunities for the youth.
Akbar Sethi added that if salaries of government employees are increased, a clear policy should also be introduced to ensure a reasonable increase in wages for private-sector employees so that economic balance and social justice can be maintained.
He also urged the government to allocate special attention and resources to the health and education sectors in the budget, describing them as the foundation of national development. He stressed the need to reduce dependence on imports and increase exports to strengthen foreign exchange reserves, stabilize the economy, and move Pakistan towards self-reliance.
