Islamabad, The Senate has initiated the debate on the Finance Bill for the fiscal year 2024-25, focusing on the government’s budget strategies and their potential impacts on various sectors.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz opened the debate by criticizing the budget’s lack of a clear economic vision to address the nation’s debt issues. Conversely, Irfan ul Haque Siddiqui argued that the country is stable, citing the functionality of all institutions and the parliament.

During the discussions, Saifullah Abro expressed concerns over the neglect of the health sector in the budget and advocated for increased support for the salaried class. Senator Bushra Anjum Butt praised the government for what she described as a balanced budget and necessary tough decisions aimed at economic stability.

Further contributions came from Muhammad Ismail Buledi, who lauded the increased allocation for the Benazir Income Support Program, and Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, who highlighted the need for a better funding mechanism for universities in Sindh. The debate also saw participation from Senators Danesh Kumar, Dr Afnan Ullah Khan, Maulana Abdul Wasay, Syed Masroor Ahsan, and Haji Shakoor Achakzai.

The session concluded with an announcement that the House will reconvene at 10:30 am tomorrow.