Opposition, MQM embarrass government in budget debate

ISLAMABAD: The government faced embarrassment in both chambers of parliament on Tuesday as not only the opposition but also its staunchest ally, the MQM, launched a blistering attack on the new budget and staged separate walkouts.

The opposition in the National Assembly called for addressing ‘structural imbalances’ in Pakistan’s economy and bringing agriculture under the tax net before it staged a walkout that was also joined by one of the government’s key allies to protest price hike and ‘visionless’ budget.

At the opening day of debate on budget in both the houses of parliament, the government suffered multiple setbacks when its economic policies came under fire from both sides of the political spectrum.