PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain termed the budget of PTI-led provincial government for the year 2017-18 `economic murder` of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, he said that new taxes proposed in the budget would directly hit common people and would increase prices of essential commodities in the open market. He said that the new budget would protect financial interests of the privi-PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain termed the budget of PTI-led provincial government for the year 2017-18 `economic murder` of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, he said that new taxes proposed in the budget would directly hit common people and would increase prices of essential commodities in the open market. He said that the new budget would protect financial interests of the privi-leged class.

The ANP leader said that provincial government relied on loans as Rs82 billion loans would be borrowed to carry out development projects.

He said that the PTI-led government borrowed record loans in the history of the province.

Mr Hussain said that new taxes and some revised taxes in the budget would directly hit common people.

He said that government did not give any relief to poor people.

The ANP leader said that 10 per centincrease in the salaries of government employees was inadequate and finance minister in his budget speech described employees `burden` on the exchequer.

He said that finance minister was central character of the Bank ofKhyber scandaland he should not have presented the budget.

Mr Hussain said that the previous budget documents showed that the government had utilised only 46 per cent of the total budget and 54 per cent funds had lapsed owing to inefficiency of the sitting government.

He said that energy sector had been ignored in the budget.