‘Misplaced Priorities’: Twitter Reacts To Budget 2020-21
Social media users have reacted adversely to the budget 2020-21. Many have criticised the imbalance between the defence budget and the funds allocated for higher education.
Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar presented the federal budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021 today. Earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had referred to this year’s budget as the ‘corona-budget’.
"When sword is mighter than pen "#Budget2020#BudgetKe2020 pic.twitter.com/zkrK3cz5GT
— ???????? ????? ? (@optimistics_1) June 12, 2020
Last year, PTI government cut Higher Education Commission budget from Rs. 35 billion to Rs. 29 billion. Universities are raising fees on students.
No increase in HEC budget this year but Defence budget increased by 11.85%. This is unfair to the youth of the country.#Budget2020
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) June 12, 2020
Budget 2020:
Education: 4 billions
Health: 20 billions
Defence: 1402 billionsConclusion: If you feel sick, buy guns and shoot yourself because you are uneducated.#Budget2020 #IMFBudgetRejected
— Ali Yusufzai (@Aliyusufzai5) June 12, 2020
The human rights activists and social media commentators have been raising their voices against the exorbitant defense budget vis-a-vis the education, climate change and health budget.
Defence: 1.3 TRILLION RUPEES (12% bump from last budget)
Climate change: Rs. 6 bn = 0.46% of the defence budget
???#budget2020— Zuneera Shah (@shahshahzon) June 12, 2020
Salaries and pensions of government employees have also not been increased and remain the same as the last fiscal year, 2020, which caused a lot of disappointment amongst people.
Government giving expectations to employees
Jan: 150% increase in salary
Feb: 100 % increase in salary
March: 50% increas+ one adhoc
April: 20% increase +two adhoc
May: 15% increase +basic pay revision
June: 10% increase
Budget hour: No increase#pathetic govt#Budget2020 pic.twitter.com/xRZfEhDKi6— سالانہ بجٹ 21-2020 (@Iamghani5) June 12, 2020
Salaries discrimination in Punjab
BS-17 Officer of PMS/PAS Gross pay and allowances Rs 187,170
BS-17 Officer of Police (DSP) Gross pay and allowances Rs 104,950
BS-17 Officer of Excise and Taxation (ETO) Gross pay and Allowances around 54K@MotorLahore @HafizMumtazPTI#Budget2020— Adeel Amjad (@adeelizm) June 12, 2020
The PTI government was also compared to the past governments and their budgets for instance how Pakistan People’s Party had increased the salary of government officers by 50% and pensions by 20% in 2010.
In 2010 PPP govt had increased salaries by 50%, pensions 20% & reduced prices of daily usage items.
2008-13: 125% increase in salaries
PTI Govt increased 7% salaries last year & 0% in #Budget2020 + maasive increase in daily usage item prices & medicine.#PeopleRejectBudget2020 pic.twitter.com/ke3mEU4doD
— Abdul Majid Kalwar (@Majid_PSF) June 12, 2020