The ruling PML-N has presented a Rs5.2 trillion budget that only a government heading into elections would: with funding that it hopes will nudge voters in the right direction. The government said it would lower some taxes, increase government staff salaries and pensions and has made medicines and medical machinery cheaper. The outgoing government has set a revenue target of Rs.5661b, earmarked Rs1100b for defence, and raised the salaries and pensions of government employees 10%. Opposition parties boycotted the National Assembly session when the budget proposals were put forward or tabled for the next year 2018-19. Their objection was that since this government is wrapping up, it is doesn'ty have the authority to decide how much the next government should spend. As the session begun, PPP’s Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah addressed the house, protesting the government’s move. “The government has no mandate to present budget for one year,” Shah said. “Nawaz Sharif i...