Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - In the budget law submitted yesterday by the Pakistani government appropriations are not expected to contribute to the progress and development of religious minorities. The Federal Minister for Harmony and Minorities - as reported by Fides on 11 / 5 / 2011 - remains de facto a "decorative" ministry because it does not have an adequate budget to promote initiatives, projects and activities in support of non-Muslim minorities such as Christian and Hindu communities.
The budget presented yesterday by the Federal Minister of Finance, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, forecasts for the year 2011 - 2012 a total expenditure of 2,767 trillion rupees (14% more than last year), with a deficit of 850 billion rupees, or 4% of gross domestic product.
The Minister announced with satisfaction the increase of 26% of exports, saying that the government's priorities are economic stability and low inflation, noting that the country urgently needs a tax system reform, as only 1.5 million people out 180 million people, pay taxes.
A total of 10 million rupees was allocated by the Authority for the reconstruction and rehabilitation after the floods of 2010, while the public sector will account for expenditure of 730 billion rupees. According to Fides sources in Pakistan's civil society, the problem is "to understand how such money will be spent on public investment and how much will be lost in corruption. In any case, the absence of making no mention of minorities means relegating them to the status of underdevelopment and exclusion in which they are already in. "(PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/04/2011)
