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A critical look at the 2010-11 budget
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Social sector development in 2010-11
In the 2010-1011 budget there are some social sector projects and priorities that I think we should be keeping under...
The writer is a member of parliament from the PML-Q ([email protected])
In the 2010-1011 budget there are some social sector projects and priorities that I think we should be keeping under close watch, for the simple reason that they have the potential to make or break the economy.
In the population control sector (our population is growing at an officially-claimed rate of 2.05 per cent every year) we need to regularise lady health workers and ensure that they continue to reach birth control and immunisation targets. Parliamentarians should periodically be invited to support such awareness programmes in their own constituencies and should be held responsible for supporting such initiatives. Health and population ministries should merge and in any case be devolved to the provincial level, reducing the expenditure of two federal ministries as mandated by the 18th amendment. The prime minister’s budget of Rs500 million for upgrading the Basic Health Unit needs to be redesigned and used scientifically, rather than politically.
The remaining Rs15 billion budget needs to be allocated to the Higher Education Commission so that 9,000 student stipends, tuition fees, research expenses do not stall, and Pakistan does not suffer any education damage.
In the primary education sector whilst we have made free education a fundamental right we need to rationalise the subject of ghost schools once and for all. And then a quick conversion through the National Commission for Human Development’s programme of these so-called schools into real ones is required. Parliamentarians need to be held responsible for the ghost schools in their constituencies so that political pressure sorts out political errors. The free books scheme at the primary level needs to be standardised throughout the provincial and federal budgets, including a stipend per child to encourage reduction in secondary school dropout rates.
The special initiatives ministry should rationalise the cost of setting up of filtration plants equally across all districts of Pakistan. The allocation for this project needs to be increased and given top priority. If the government cuts the gifts and entertainment allowances of the entire federal government, it will release funds for about 115 filtration plants.
Also, food security has not received the kind of budgetary attention it requires. Free food drives (langars) which provide one square meal to the poorest of the society need to be started on urgent basis. This would save suicides in the short run. Subsidy on wheat targeted towards the needy should also be started immediately.
All the above rests on certain bare minimum logistics. An ownership and monitoring of each project in the relevant National Assembly’s standing committees is mandatory and an immediate national census exercise which can direct targeted development, food and water security. It’s a start but it needs to be done, irrespective of opposition and government lines of division.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 16th, 2010.
Reader Comments (8)
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Are articles by an MNA immune from editing?Recommend
Nodoubt article is written based on facts
Nice articleRecommend
I agree that the current allocated budget for social and education development is not enough but at the same time we must accept that mush of our resources are being spent on countering the terror storm which prevails. This is also a testing time for the long awaited democracy and we need to support it in order for it to survive.Recommend
With due respect to the writer, who herself is a politician (popularly known these days among the people who are are deprived of their rights and call for protest to secure them) health and education are the two major sectors that have been ignored by all the governments.
Being unaware of the importance of education sector is justified as many of our parliamentarians have not acquired proper education. They do not even know that once it is proved that a person is carrying an illegal degree, it is a moral obligation to apologize and step back.
It was written about the budget allocation for health and education sectors, but the fact cannot be ignored that things on paper always look good. However, when it comes to implementations of the proposed actions serious steps are never taken because if somehow people become educated the vote bank would be cut as an educated fellow will never vote for such feudal (they are present in every party).Recommend
First of all we need to know what our population is! Govt of Pakistan claims it to be 169 million but the UN says its 184 million. If we dont have accurate population figures that basically means that we have no idea what the population growth, literacy or employment rates are. It also means that the new and improved per capita income fabricated by the government is overstated by 9%!
Corruption, lack of skills, lack of plan, apathy, lethargy and criminal inefficiency are amongst our attributes. The Rs.220 billion sunk on state owned enterprises every year could be used to make a 100,000 houses for the poor every year, even if you construct them at a luxurious 22 lac/apartment. Just imagine the kind of employment and economic activity that would be generated by making a new city of 100,000 househoulds! Recommend
Along with the above mentioned issues, there is a need to control economic disparity.
A cricket player ranked in category ‘A’ is given a monthly salary of Rs 250,000 while a category ‘B’ player earns Rs 175,000 rupees per month. The ‘C’ category players get Rs 100,000 rupees a month.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court draws Rs 259,838, supported by a judicial allowance of Rs. 113,750 per month. The Chief Justice of High Court gets Rs. 240,825 besides a judicial allowance of Rs 91,000.
The per month salaries of a Supreme Court and High Court judge is Rs 245,457 and Rs 231,563 respectively.
People of this ‘poor country’ – which is in debt of more than $50 billion and whose development is dependent upon the aids from foreign countries – are also affording luxuries that are beyond their reach and limits.
The urban development in many cities with respect to the improvement in transport infrastructure to clear the traffic mess indicates the presence of large number of vehicles on the roads. This, too, raises a question on claims of those who term economy of Pakistan as fragile.
In Karachi, around more Rs 900 million is paid annually to the private coaching centers that are responsible for giving extra tuitions to the students. Not only this, the marriage ceremonies and other functions of same sort waste food of around Rs 1 billion in a year.
So, our leaders should also take these facts (I am sorry if I have misquoted any) into account and design the policies to meet such on ground challenges.Recommend
if we utilize our population through sound planning as China done…we have a approximately 62% young population which could b turn a great productive asset. but our Govt give short relief to pakistani natives in the shape of “Sasti Roti n Banazir income support prog” Govt should plan on strong basis… n we must leave so called war on terror as Wat Nam done in the past…. it is very necessary for our economy….. other wise the day is not so far when our all resources will use on this war……Recommend
Madam Marvi’s article is revenge playing to criticize the rulers, what was the agenda of social development by Muslim League Q during their regime, how much our human development index increased. During their era how many hospitals, colleges, Universities were built. Some months before I was traveling from Hong Kong to Taipei by Air France, at the time of ticket booking I repeatedly requested for “ Muslim Food “ during travel, I wondered when ham food given to me and when I strongly protested over it the air hostess asked me ‘ What type of Muslim you are, you the people do every thing and when matter of food comes you are Muslim, similarity in the politics we believe upon almighty Allah and audit our opponent with words of blame game and conspiracy, On my part, I think politicians need to come with applicable economic agenda for the prosperity of nation instead of getting cheap fame just on criticism.Recommend