Pencils down As locals ink LG ballots, K-P undecided over fund allocation

Minister Inayatullah Khan says 30% of ADP will be dedicated to new system

PESHAWAR: Although the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are electing their local representatives today, the government is still undecided on how to hand over administrative power and cash.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Minister for LG Inayatullah Khan said 30% of the upcoming Annual Development Programme funds will be doled out to the lowest tier of the state. While LG representatives will be in office in no time, Inayatullah said the fund allocation and devolution process will be completed in three phases.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan will announce the list of elected candidates on June 8,” he said, adding reserved seat nominees will be finalised in the next step. Once all representatives join the set-up, the Provincial Finance Commission will decide upon the disbursement of funds – the final stage. “We will be done with the entire procedure probably by end June,” he added.



Inayatullah said the overall ADP kitty comprises provincial ADP allocation, district revenue and foreign aid. In response to a question, Inayatullah said the focus will be specifically on the underdeveloped districts and tehsils of the province.

The minister said three sub-committees – health, education and finance – were set up in the last department meeting. “They will submit separate reports by June 2,” he added. “The exact distribution formula will be chalked out in the next meeting.”

Powerless

Talking to The Express Tribune, a PFC official said department officials are solely responsible for fund disbursement and not preparing the allocation formula. “PFC members will decide that,” he said, adding so far no recommendation has been forwarded by the commission to kickstart the process. The comments of another official echoed similar sentiments of confusion. “I am not sure who will decide which area gets what from the announced 30%,” he said.

Calculated compromise?

The provincial government’s hurried plans for LG and poll preps have clearly left opposition parties unimpressed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, former provincial finance minister and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Humayun Khan said Imran Khan was unable to fulfil promises in the stipulated time. “Imran claimed he would conduct LG polls within three months after coming into power,” he said. Humayun said the PPP is participating in the polls under a flawed LG Act. Explaining the contradiction, he said the party does not want to upset the democratic process.

The PPP leader said the PFC is the only competent authority to decide upon fund disbursement; a matter which all political parties are still unsure about. “The government is yet to devise a clear strategy in this regard,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party lawmaker Anisa Zeb said the announcements regarding devolution of power and resources are encouraging.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2015.