ISLAMABAD
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the government is importing wheat and sugar to ensure their smooth supply at reasonable prices.
Responding to a question during Question Hour in the Upper House on Friday, Ali Muhammad Khan said that the government was also working on maintaining strategic reserves of wheat, sugar, ghee and pulses.
He apprised the Senate that currently 1HFY22 average inflation stands at 9.8 per cent YoY in the country adding that in next three to four months it would be further decreased.
The minister said the government was making all-out efforts to keep the inflation minimum. Giving comparison with Iran and Turkey, he said that inflation in Iran stood at 35.7 percent and in Turkey it was 21.1 percent.
He said the farmers got the highest rates and their revenue jumped to Rs1100 billion for the first time in the history of Pakistan. Tractors and motorbike sales also registered sharp increases, he added.
Talking about relief measures, the Minister of State said it has been decided to release wheat at the rate of Rs. 1,950 per 40 kilograms to ease out its price and ensure smooth supply in the market and flour mills would provide a 20 kg bag for Rs. 1,100. He said all provincial governments are releasing wheat at the government-determined price. He said sugar price has been set at Rs. 90 a kilo. Besides, cash subsidies are also being provided to the poor people on essential food items.
Ali Muhammad Khan said the government is implementing the National Agriculture Emergency Programme amounting to Rs. 277 billion to uplift agriculture and livestock sector on modern lines and to enhance production level of major and minor crops.
The minister said that the sugar mills industry has been directed to start crushing season in time in order to provide maximum benefits to the farmers.
Regarding rupee’s depreciation, Ali Muhammad Khan said the rupee witnessed around 40 per cent depreciation in last three years while it was depreciated around 100 per cent during past tenures of PML-N and PPP.
He said the government did not borrow a single penny from the State Bank of Pakistan. Due to various international factors, rupee depreciated, he added.
He said the PML-N government artificially kept the rupee stable through borrowing dollars from SBP.
Replying to another question, Ali Muhammad Khan informed the Senate that a pilot project for 7th Population and Housing Census 2022 will begin from 15th May this year.
He said the complete field operation will be carried out from the first of August this year. He said it is the PTI government, which is going to conduct a transparent census after a gap of just five years for the first time in the history of Pakistan. He assured the House that state of the art methodology will be used to ensure accuracy in the Population and Housing Census.
In a written response submitted in the Senate, the Finance Ministry said the tax collection increased in 2020-21 as compared to the first two years of the incumbent government. It said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected tax of Rs4,745 billion during the fiscal year 2020-21.
The report said the government collected tax of Rs3,828 billion in fiscal year 2018-19 and Rs3,997 billion in 2019-20. The collection increased rapidly in 2020-21 in which the FBR bagged tax of Rs4,745 billion.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s imports were $11.28 billion in July to September in the 2020-21 fiscal year, while the exports were recorded at $5.47 billion during the same corresponding period. The trade deficit was recorded at $5.81 billion from July to September 2020-21, the written reply of the finance ministry stated.
Later, the house started discussion on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 to make recommendations to the National Assembly on the money bill. Taking part in the debate, members from the treasury benches said the bill will help document the economy and will have negligible effect on the poor people as only luxury items have been taxed in this bill, whereas the opposition members believed that the bill will enhance inflation in the country.
Those, who participated in the discussion, include Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Hidayutllah, Rana Maqbool, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Faisal Javed, Waleed Iqbal, and Maulana Faiz Muhammad.
The house will now meet on Monday at 3:00pm.
