ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Friday said that the budget 2012-13 was "best budget" without any foreign assistance.
Addressing a press conference here at the Parliament House after the budget speech, Kaira expressed the government's resolve that there would be no mini-budget this year.
He lauded the performance of government's finance team and said that the revenues had improved, budget deficit had been controlled and inflation had decreased during the last fiscal year.
He said Rs 120 billion had been earmarked for energy sector but the finance minister had assured the federal cabinet that he would provide as much amount as would be demanded to address the energy crisis.
He said the government had decided to shift tubewells on solar energy. He said that the government wanted to increase salaries of the government employees by up to 50 percent but due to less fiscal
space, 20 percent increase was made. He said tax collection had been
improved by 50 percent.
Coming down hard on the misbehaviour of the PML-N legislators, Kaira said that such irresponsible acts could derail the democratic process.
"The negative attitude of the PML-N legislators was painful which has no parallel in parliamentary history of the country. This has made entire nation ashamed," he said.
Referring to the leader of opposition in the national assembly, the minister said that the mastermind of the PML-N misbehaviour did not participate in the protest and rather he sat on backbenches.
"He is the same person who had been provided special concession by General Musharraf on his own request and was given house arrest when the PPP workers and its leaders were fighting against the dictator," he said recalling struggle against dictator in year 2007.
Responding to a question, Kaira said that the speaker of National Assembly could take action against the PML-N legislators who had used muscle to dictate their terms during the house proceedings.
"But the people of Pakistan would take action against these people who used bizarre and foul language in the house," he added.
He said that the PML-N had lost in the battlefield and now were hell bent on derailment of system. He said the PPP had sacrificed for the democratic system and it had given blood for this cause.
He urged the critics to come up with alternative proposals and said that mere critique was nothing but making mockery by the opposition benches. (APP)