Sorry state of affairs: ‘2,700 schools, dispensaries in Sindh are non-functional’

According to Hisaar Foundation CEO, there is no staff in these schools and medical facilities

KARACHI: At a workshop titled 'Understanding Sindh Budget', Hisaar Foundation CEO Dr Sono Khangharani said that he collected data of as many as 2,700 school and dispensaries across Sindh. "All these buildings are useless," he said. "There is no staff in them and there has been no budget allocated ever for these schools and hospitals."

Speaking at the workshop at the Regent Plaza hotel on Friday, he urged the civil society to keep an eye on the on-going projects. Civil society activists at the workshop urged the Sindh government to utilise funds allocated in the annual budget and asked the citizens to keep an eye over development projects.

The National Organisation for Working Communities (NOW Communities) arranged the workshop on Friday. Representatives of various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) attended the discussion.



"Almost 50 per cent of the population is dependent on the agriculture sector but is completely ignored by the government," pointed out Aijaz Malik, a representative of NGO Development Organisation. He said that Sindh's farmers are dependent on the Punjab for good quality seeds. "If you [government] want to tackle social and economic burdens on cities, agriculture sector should be given priority," he urged.

Fazal Noor, an architect and urban planner, briefed the participants about the allocation of funds in different departments. He discussed the budget on development of various projects, education and health and said that understanding the budget is a technical issue. "But we have to understand it deeply as we can monitor the government's activities before funds are lapsed."

Budget is allocated but no one knows where it is spent, highlighted Usman Parhyar, the president of Dream Foundation. He said that the condition of his area, Mawach Goth, and around is pathetic. He said that the government did not give proper attention to the education sector.

Farhat Parveen, the executive director of NOW Communities, was of the view that despite dilapidated conditions of roads and public buildings, people have to rely on the government. "The government has to resolve issues and we have to stand with it," she said.

"Karachi was once the centre of economic activities," Parveen pointed out. She said that the government should create job opportunities for the people.



Aurat Foundation's Mahnaz Rehman was of the view that the government takes advantage of the people's ignorance. "We avoid budget-related figures and let the government enjoy its own ways," she said, adding that it is the right time for the government and the NGOs to work collectively. "We don't think about climate change," said Rehman. "We ignore our agriculture sector. Our infrastructure is not in good condition. Our public transport system needs attention."

Urban Resource Centre's Zahid Farooq pointed out that it is the right time to discuss the budget issue so that the government can add recommendations of the civil society in the upcoming budget. He said that every citizen has the right through the law — the Right to Information — to access budget expenditures. He also urged the government to initiate a policy for urban development as agricultural areas around the Karachi city are being encroached upon by builders. "We used to take vegetables from Malir and surrounding areas," he said. "It has been converted into residential colonies now."

National Party's Ramzan Memon said that the government of Sindh, that used to spend its budget on development and economic activities, now spends much on security. "If you [government] spend more on security, you'll suffer in other fields that directly benefit common people," he said. He added that maintaining law and order and curbing corruption are the responsibilities of the civil government and not the paramilitary forces.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2015.