Uplift schemes: PM approves Rs20m funds for MNAs

Nawaz okays discretionary funds for lawmakers

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved Rs20 million discretionary funds for all the lawmakers in the National Assembly (NA) to use it in their respective constituencies under a new modus operandi, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on December 5, 2013 had put a ban on the prime minister’s discretionary funds but Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leaders have found solution and showed the way to the prime minister how he can issue discretionary funds for development schemes.

The sources said that the decision was taken after immense pressure was exerted, not only by the ruling party’s lawmakers but also by the other political parties in the NA.

Last week, PM Nawaz had assigned the task to his nephew MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, son-in-law Captain (retd) MNA Muhammad Safdar and member Public Affairs Unit Chaudhry Saud Mejeed to find ways in this regard.

The sources stated that the prime minister was very happy and willing to award all MNAs who supported the government during the days-long sit-ins held by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Islamabad and cooperated in getting passed the 21st Constitutional Amendment from parliament.

According to the sources, 33 PTI MNAs are excluded from the funds largesse whereas the rest of the lawmakers of all 21 political parties might get them.

Hamza, Safder and Majeed suggested that when the PTI MNAs would end their boycott of the National Assembly, their case should then be contemplated, the sources noted.

This time, the sources added, PM Nawaz was suggested to use Rs12.5 billion funds allocated in Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for Community Development Programme for fulfillment of required uplift schemes in the lawmakers’ constituencies, adding that the government for one-and-a-half years did not consume a single penny from this account.

The sources pointed out that the steering committee has devised a sophisticated mechanism of allocation of funds to MNAs and held its first meeting on the subject the same day.

It is pertinent to mention that due to SC’s December 5, 2013 ruling, which curtailed the PM’s discretionary powers to issue funds for development projects, the federal government could not continue Peoples Works Programme (PWP) under the name of Tameer-e-Watan Programme (TWP).

Traditionally when Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) comes to power, it runs lawmakers’ schemes under the name of PWP and when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) holds the reins of the regime, it renames the PWP as the TWP and continues the practice.

The sources said that in order to sidestep any court challenge, the committee proposed that schemes should be launched under community development programme which is exclusively for meeting the set Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2015.