K-P Assembly. PHOTO: AFP
Maulana Asmatullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl from Kohistan moved the resolution to increase the members’ salaries and allowances. It was passed with an overwhelming majority.
Space for supplementary grants: Budget hints at understatement
The supplementary approved demands for grants worth Rs26.3 billion for 50 sectors of the government and rejected all the cut motions submitted by opposition and treasury benchers.
The major share went to a few departments including Rs10.7 billion for relief and rehabilitation, Rs5.4 billion for non-salary expenditure of the district government, Rs5.2 billion for special programmes, Rs2.2 billion for roads, Rs0.89 billion for grant to local councils, Rs0.7 billion for police, Rs221 million for the home department, Rs125 million for the administration, Rs120 million for law and justice and Rs87 million for information and public relations.
The rest of the departments’ demands for grants were nominal.
Addressing the house earlier, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said financial assistance for the family of late Sardar Soran Singh, the slain special assistant to the chief minister on minority affairs, was approved by the Cabinet committee. He added it would be given to the family soon, “The summary has reached me and assistance will soon be provided,” the chief minister said. He informed the house that a joint committee of the police and secret agencies has been formed to hold a daily meeting to share information.
“The committee decisions are acted upon within 24 hours. Earlier, the information sharing system was weak and ineffective,” Khattak said. He added the government had wiped out the thana culture, turning the police into a proper force. He said the government extended the contract of the Special Police Force by three years and their regularisation is also under consideration.
“We have empowered the police verbally and an act has been prepared for their empowerment under a law,” the CM said. “It will soon be presented in the assembly.”
NA passes budget with majority vote
Khattak asked the opposition to constitute a committee for give suggestions to improve the police act and remove its flaws.
He informed the house that the number of police stations would be reduced, but the performance and standards of those in existence would improve. Awami National Party leader Sardar Hussain Babak said the opposition has been hearing about reforms in government departments. However, neither they nor the public are aware if they have taken practical shape.
He suggested a committee should be formed to examine the reforms and to inform the public and media about them. The chief minister welcomed the suggestion and Speaker Asad Qaiser announced a special committee will be constituted for this purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2016.
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