The National Assembly has approved a supplementary budget of Rs180 billion. The approval came on October 16 after a heated debate. Opposition members walked out of the house in protest before the final vote.
The finance minister said the extra funds were needed for flood relief and security costs. He told the house that unexpected spending had become necessary after the monsoon damage in Sindh and Balochistan.
Opposition’s protest
The opposition leader said the government had failed to control spending. He claimed that much of the money would go to waste. He asked why the house was not told about the spending earlier.
Members of the PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council tore copies of the budget papers. They raised slogans against the government. The speaker asked them to take their seats, but they left the house.
Government’s reply
The finance minister said every rupee was accounted for. He said the opposition was doing politics over a national need. He added that the funds would be audited by the auditor general.
The supplementary budget will now go to the Senate for recommendations. The government expects the spending to start within two weeks.
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