According to government officials, the PM is recklessly allocating funds for projects in PPP’s constituencies ahead of the general elections.
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has diverted funds from several key schemes, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, to provide Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf additional space for discretionary spending in a bid to lure voters, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Funds have also been diverted from projects initiated by former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, especially those in Multan – Gilani’s constituency – highlighting how once influential people lose their sway.
Official documents have revealed that the federal government slashed the funding of 12 projects to provide PM Ashraf Rs5 billion in additional funds under the Peoples Works Programme-II (PWP-II) – the incumbent premier’s discretionary development budget pool. According to government officials, the PM is recklessly allocating funds for projects in PPP’s constituencies ahead of the general elections.
Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh approved an increase in PWP-II’s size to Rs37 billion from Rs32 billion. This is the second revision in the size of PWP-II in less than three months – the fund was earlier increased from Rs22 billion.
“The Federal Finance Minister has been pleased to to accord approval for provision of additional funds of Rs5 billion through adjustment in PSDP 2012-13,” read the documents obtained by The Express Tribune.
According to them, the Planning Commission slashed Diamer-Bhasha dam’s funds by almost 16%. The National Economic Council, which is headed by the PM, had earlier approved Rs6.3 billion for the dam. Now, the amount allocated has been cut down to Rs5.3 billion. The project’s total cost is Rs834 billion, which is likely to balloon further due to the inevitable delay in the project’s completion.
Similarly, the government also slashed funds allocated to the Multan-Khanewal motorway flyover project by 50% (Rs500 million) along with reducing funds for the project’s link interchange by 11.6% (Rs100 million). Both projects were part of the Multan package, introduced by former PM Gilani.
When Gilani developed differences with President Asif Ali Zardari earlier, one of his main demands for reconciliation was the protection of funds allocated to the Multan package. The cuts in these projects are likely to annoy the former premier again, officials feared.
The documents revealed the government did not even spare projects in crisis-hit Balochistan province. The development budget of the Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab-Ratodero project has been slashed by 15% (Rs500 million), while the funds allocated to the Quetta Water Supply Scheme have been cut by 13.3% (Rs200million).
Most alarmingly, funds allocated to emergency flood protection schemes were also slashed by 33% (Rs300 million), the documents further revealed. Other projects whose funding has been slashed include the Darwat dam project in Sindh, the Lowari Tunnel and Northern Bypass projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and several production projects of the Ministry of Defence.
When contacted, the Planning Commission spokesperson insisted that funds were slashed from only those projects whose progress was slow. He added that no work apart from land acquisition was currently being done in the Diamer-Bhasha dam project.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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So, you are telling me, that in Pakistan, Rs. 5 Billion of the state's funds will now disappear mostly into the informal sector? And you will keep borrowing from the IMF. And keep spending on the military and other non productive purposes. Refuse land reforms, refuse tax reforms, smudge economic stats with the finesse of a hurricane. You know where I am going with this right? It's called a Balance of Payment crisis; which is something Pakistan is not entirely unfamiliar with; followed by civil unrest.
What's even more appalling is how unlike in the rest of the world, where people fight for Democracy, here we have educated Pakistanis fighting against Democracy.
And blame the PPP for everything. What was the opposition doing when the GDP was corrected (upwards) didn't they question the political implications of a higher GDP, but nothing happened. And funds for the incumbent premier to use for election purposes? Seriously? Does no one know of this oft encountered problem called the Agency Problem? Conflict of Interest? Who watches the watchmen yada yada....
CEC should look into this apparent violation
This blatant diversion of government funds for election winning tactics is not only pre-pol rigging but murder of the economic future of the nation as well. As such, the SC and the EC must immediately take action to stop this mis-use of public funds for personal gains.
Is Shaikh not minister of finance? Why is he interfering in Planning?
Planning is supposed to be independent of finance!
Ladies and gentleman, I hope you will share this story as much as you can to create awareness amongst people. We cannot afford another PPP term. Democracy is the best revenge - vote them out!
That's why they call democracy is the best revenge!
Peshawar Northern bypass has been under construction for more than a decade now
Raja ji pulling a Shahbaz! 11th hour spending and development in specific areas
Better than increasing defence budget.....for nothing.....
And if people still vote for PPP or PML-N, they deserve what's coming for them in the next 5 years.
"together they can stop this Canadian from helping subvert the Constitution". Mr. Qadri is Canadian national and divulging in Pakistani politics and is trying to subvert the constitution , it was obvious that some one is funding his political gatherings. The government has the Revenue department and it is their job to find out where did he get the resources and if has paid any taxes on it. Some say the Supreme Court should look into it, it is not the job of SC but the tax people. IF any intelligence outfit is funding it then the lower courts should start looking into it as it is illegal. The problem is that this government violated the Constitution by themselves to accommodate the dual nationals and it is hard for them to bring Mr.Qadri under spot light and call him Canadian citizen. Pakistan is a lawless country and Mr.Qadri could get away murder.
zinda hai buhtto zinda hai...
Pakistan Please vote them again if you have not learn lesson PPP/PMLN -