26- REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE

In Pakistan the 2 percent ruling class has been ruling over the 98 percent poor and oppressed people since the inception of the country. They have not only ruled, but have also used the State resources and national exchequer for personal gains, because a major portion of the State exchequer has been utilised on wasteful luxuries and personal benefits. The national exchequer is almost entirely depleted. In order to replenish the exchequer working people are further burdened with heavy taxes and loans are obtained from foreign countries at exorbitant rates.

For not providing basic necessities to the people, the government put forward the justification that it lacks resources, whereas, billions of rupees are spent on the luxurious life style of top bureaucrats, ministers and members of the ruling party, the government advisors and their families. Millions of rupees are spent on medical treatment overseas for these people. The same privileged class also obtains huge loans from nationalised banks.

Millions of rupees are spent to win over the favours of opposition party members in the Assembly. The national exchequer is also being plundered to pay for expensive functions, tea parties, luncheons and dinners. Billions of rupees are spent on luxury cars, villas, bungalows and foreign tours for those who are in position of power. Expensive plots of land are distributed among the 'favourites' at give-away prices. It is because of such extravagant unnecessary expenditure that our country today is facing severe economic crisis.

MQM wants to see an end to this extravagant expenditure on luxury items. The Government sends, at its own expense, the very rich feudal lords and bureaucrats and their families for trips abroad and for medical treatment. This practice must be discontinued. Luxurious costly functions and extravagant dinners should be stopped. On foreign tours, instead of a huge entourage the representatives concerned should travel with a minimum of staff to reduce unnecessary costs. The extravagance on fleets of vehicles and the houses of ministers, advisors and their secretaries must be stopped. The practice of distributing plots of land to favourites of ministers and government officials should also be stopped. The loans given to the privileged class must be recovered from them. Tax evasion must be eliminated and every extravagance on luxury items should be stopped.

Return to the Table of Contents