Pakistan

A large number of government officials and consultants of all ministries at federal and provincial level are supposedly busy, day in and night out, to prepare a 'poor' friendly budget, due to be announced in a few days. This is what has been happening every year since independence. Every time it is claimed to be the best possible budget, a budget better than the previous year promising alleviation of poverty, increase in health and education facilities etc, etc. However, the outcome to date has been just the opposite of the claims made.

No budget has to date taken into account two simple questions. What is the budget of a poor family of four to five persons whose bread winner is one man? Are the public and private sectors offering these heads of families the opportunity to earn their living as per the budget of the family? If the national budget is geared towards this direction, it is a good budget, otherwise, it is all nothing but jugglery of words. It is hoped against hopes that the ruling party adheres to its slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan (food, clothing and housing) not only by its words but also by its deeds for the common man and not for the few of its jyalays (selected followers).