Opposition stages walkout as Sindh Assembly approves budget

KARACHI: Members of the opposition parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walkout from Sindh Assembly Saturday as the assembly approved the budget for fiscal year 2013-14 Saturday, Geo News reported.

According to details, the Sindh Assembly has approved Rs 617 billion budget for the fiscal year of 2013-14 today after which the opposition including MQM, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muslim League-Functional staged a walkout on the imposition of taxes.

Chief Minster Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah presented the bill with 20-25 % increase in the property tax. However, the MQM opposed the imposition of all types of taxes including the property tax.

MQM’s parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed said that Rs13 billion property tax was received out of which Rs12 billion was paid by Karachi. He said that increase in the property tax is a cruel act by the provincial government.