Budget session: Opposition unhappy over unspent development funds

MQM MPA cites how govt barely spent 46% funds in current fiscal year

KARACHI: The Sindh government barely spent 46% of the development funds in the fiscal year 2015-2016, pointed out Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Mehmood Razzaq during the Sindh Assembly session on Tuesday.

Opposition lawmakers, while taking part in the budget discussion, criticised the government for not utilising the development funds. They suggested that the government devise a social security plan and utilise the funds at proper time.

“You have allocated a Rs569-billion budget with Rs225 billion for development programmes,” said Razzaq. “How can you make sure that the money is spent as the government has hardly spent 46% funds in this current year?” He said that there is zero per cent utilisation of funds in many departments, which shows the incompetency on part of the incumbent government.



Saeed Nizamani of the Pakistan Muslim League - Functional (PML-F) said that the government has earmarked around Rs160 billion for education but has yet to devise any plan to reopen the hundreds of ghost schools in the province. “Billions of rupees have been spent in health sector and, recently, the government has announced Rs65 billion for it,” he said. “But patients are still running from pillar to post to get medicines at government hospitals, where doctors have stopped providing syringes and Panadol tablets.”

According to him, more than 50% of the basic health centres are lying non-functional. “Every year we pass billions of rupees budget. We want to know where it goes,” he said, adding that people are protesting in various districts against shortage of hepatitis injections but all in vain.

MQM parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed termed it a ‘conventional’ budget and suggested that a participatory budget with the consultation of various stakeholders and lawmakers be presented. Ahmed referred to Article 140-A of the Constitution and said that there are three tiers of governance in the country - the first tier is the federal government, second provincial government and third is the local government. “The third and last tier is more important but, unfortunately, the government is unwilling to finish the process of local bodies,” he said.



All the issues will be resolved if the government strengthens the local bodies’ system. “No one can talk about new province or bifurcating Sindh if you empower the local government system in letter and spirit,” he said.

Ban on live coverage

Opposition members also raised the issue of a ban on the live coverage of Sindh Assembly proceedings. Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan asked speaker Agha Siraj Durrani to reconsider his decision. “There are serious security threats and higher officials have informed me that some terrorists can take benefit of TV camera in order to attack the assembly,” Durrani explained.

PTI apologises for attack on PPP lawmaker.



Many MPAs belonging to the treasury and opposition criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who had allegedly tortured Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Shamim Mumtaz in Bath Island.

Mumtaz said that she was monitoring development work in her area when a few PTI activists misbehaved with her. “They asked me to stop the development work in the PTI constituency,” she said. After a few minutes of heated argument, the PTI workers attacked PPP workers and kidnapped another, namely Noman Misri. “I called PTI MPA Khurram Sher Zaman and other leaders but no one responded,” she said. Later, an FIR was registered against PTI workers who have yet to be arrested.

PTI parliamentary leader Samar Ali Khan rendered an apology. “This is a ridiculous approach and we will take action against them,” he said.

Lawmakers also condemned Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl senator Hafiz Hamdullah who used abusive language against rights activist Marvi Sirmed.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2016.