A petrol pump manager:
1. It will affect President Zardari! The effects of the previous budgets leave us with no hope from this one.
2. Raise the minimum wage.
3. Healthcare.
4. Increase the defense budget, at least they are more responsible and less corrupt than the government officials, I’d rather see them receive the money than Ahmed Mukhtar or Ijaz Butt.
5. Inflation will increase, the government will use us to support its own inefficient and failing organizations like Pakistan Railways and PIA.
6. I can’t say I will have an informed opinion on the private sector. I do think that the burden of mafias and “Bhatta” should be removed from small enterprises and merchants.
7. Make the cabinet smaller to save money and expenditure.
8. GST is not good and we should do away with it. We need subsidies back for petrol and gas. The government should at least reduce its own cut from these goods to reduce prices.
9. Not really something I think the public can decide, but I definitely think we should avoid the IMF loans.
Dawn.com spent a few minutes each, with six random people spotted in the streets of Karachi and asked them nine questions pertaining to the announcement of Pakistan’s Budget for the Financial Year 2011-2012 later today (June 3).
Q1. In what way do you think will the new federal budget impact the common man’s life? Or does it not matter at all?
Q2. What should this budget tackle first and foremost?
Q3. What section needs the biggest increase of fund allocation?
Q4. Should the funds allocated towards the defence budget be decreased?
Q5. What effect will the budget have on inflation?
Q6. In what way can the budget help the private sector?
Q7. What can be done to alleviate poverty?
Q8. What is your opinion on General Sales Tax (GST)?
Q9. Should we continue taking loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
– Interviews by Nadir Siddiqui and photos by Hussain Afzal/Dawn.com
You are welcome to join the discussion and share your own views on these questions by answering in the comments section.
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A1. It impacts profoundly. Those who feel budget does not impact should, perhaps, stop blaming government if it makes no difference.
A2. Infrastructure, health and basic education. If these three things are covered, rest all fall into place.
A3. Education.
A4. Don't see the need when Americans are already doing the job that Pakistani Army should be doing.
A5. It will go up given the level of taxation.
A6. Open up the sectors first.
A7. Once again – education.
A8. No comments.
A9. That is not an option any more, given the state of economy, it is a neccessity.
This is a comment from a doctoral student studying in Euorpe and at the finshing stages of PhD studies.
A1.It will make it more miserable.
A2. Food and health.
A3. Health and eduction
A4. Yes, definitely. Whats the use of protecting a person dying of hunger and poverty?
A5. Inflation will increase as always. Wait for mini budgets!
A6. No idea. Private sector is more affected by law and order situation.
A7. Decrease the defense budget to 20% from current 57%. Increase the health and education budget equivalent to the current defense budget. Take taxes for the eilites and open the records in front of the public.
A8. GST is good provided that a common man can pay it or its only applied to consumable food items such as sugar, floor etc.
A9. Absoulutely not. Lets see if all of us can stand as a nation.
1. Mr. Zardari and his group
2. Job creation.
3. Privatization.
4. Decrease.
5. Inflation will increase.
6. Interest free may be profit sharing loan designed systematically to allow common people to start or expand their business ideas. Close monitoring of their business performance and recovery of loans. In farming land reforms. In education provide special training to those who own the business ideas and willing to bring those ideas to reality.
7. Improve the Zakat and Ushr Department.
8. Its too high. But its already in place so removing it at once not going to do good. Reduction of 1% every three years will be a good strategy. On the other hand collection of GST should be efficient and accurate process. If a common person can afford a cell phone then I am pretty sure that a small business man can maintain the cash register. These cash registers will be connected to the tax office main frame using the telephone lines and sending the sales information on daily basis. GST amount will be deducted automatically from business bank account. Mystery shoppers will be send to find the one not following the instructions. Educate the end user to demand for receipt. Similar steps can be taken for all types of businesses.
9. No IMF cause their mandate and objectives are not synch with the Pakistan's economic situation. I rather get the consultancy from another body like finance attache of Canadian High Commission or Sweden. We need the structure design from these kind of countries.
1. It can only affect the common person when after effective collection mechanism the govt judiciously spends it on the welfare of the people which is visibly transparent and transcending political divisions.
2. The governments first and foremost responsibility should be in the following priority i.e. education, health, justice/ accountability,law and order, production/ provision of cheap energy and birth control.
3. Education, health and law and order. The military does not need too much as the enemy is within and not outside the geographical boundaries of Pakistan. In the recent past we have seen colossal damage caused by our own people to our infrastructure, than all the wars put together.
4. The defense allocation should be reduced as now they are self generating due to commissioning of various projects receiving preferential treatment. All welfare projects should be curtailed/ limited to their officers and men and not be run commercially. CSD should serve the servicemen only as Utility Stores for the common man. If run commercially they should be taxed as a commercial entity. The defense production should be phased out gradually to the private sector as in other advanced countries.
5. Budget is not the only inflationary factor. We must provide visionary support to the export/ agriculture sector.
6. The budget can visibly help the private sector not by illogically establishing and allocating irrelevant industrial zones which later become estate investments, but, by establishing/ supporting projects in the needful sectors/ relevant areas i.e.establishing a sugar mill in sugar cane growing areas, a weapons manufacturing/ marble factory in the areas adjacent to the places providing skilled labor/ resource etc etc. More over all government sector projects should be gradually, expeditiously and transparently phased out/ handed over to the private sector. The government should only restrict itself to planning, law or policymaking, overseeing and good governance.
7. Intelligence, common sense and national pride over self is the only way to alleviate poverty.
8. Not qualified to comment on it. However, all taxes should be rationalized and tax base broadened by a friendly but firm F.B.R.
9. A big NO. The government should immediately through an effective, transparent accountable mechanism/ process, recover all dues in whatever shape and place and use
them judiciously to pay of debts. More over Pakistan should aggressively bargain with the
western powers/ countries for being part of their war on terrorism on the lines of Eygpt.
A1. It will make the poor, more poor. The loaf of the poor has already become small, it will become smaller. Let the budget specialists prepare domestic budget with a minimum salary of Rs. 6000 for an average family. Budget cannot provide even the staple food for an average family. I will mention the UN report that in Pakistan wheat consumption per person has decreased.
A2. Inflation
A3. Education. It will provide a way to live in this world.
A4. No. They should suggest to keep distance from America.
A5. Surge in inflation.
A6. Transparent policies can help the private sector. Corruption prevail across the country.
A7. Sincere leadership is the only solution for which there is no future. Nothing should be done for the poor. All corruption is done in the name of helping the poor. The poor can live without any help. And they are doing so for the last 63 years. Please do something for Pakistan but not for the poor.
A8. No new taxes. Try to implement the law sincerely. Motivate them.
A9. It is a rich country. It is made poor by the corrupt leadership. Look, our supreme court is helpless against corruption. Once upon a time Double Barrel Khan said that he is helpless against corruption. Now it is manyfold.