22-month plan: Govt goes far afield in search of voters

Prioritises projects in K-P, Sindh, interior Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: The federal government’s newly-formulated development plan for the next two years prioritises mega projects particularly in those areas where the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz does not have a strong political presence. The motive is clear: the party wants to strengthen its vote bank ahead of the 2018 general elections.

Announced on Friday after a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Murree, the nearly two-year plan covers a period from August 2016 to May 2018 when the PML-N will be completing its five-year constitutional term.

Sources in the ruling party said necessary instructions have been issued to the relevant authorities to prioritise mega projects, especially those linked to infrastructure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and interior Balochistan, with effect from August 1, 2016.

“In the days to come, you will see a lot of motorways, expressways and other roads projects outside Punjab,” said a PML-N stalwart, while requesting anonymity. Sources at the PM Secretariat said apart from roads, the prioritised projects include three power generation projects and three airports.

The power projects include Neelum-Jehlum Hydroelectric Project, Dasu hydropower project, Bunji hydropower project and the long-term Diamer-Bhasha hydropower project. Construction of airports in Bannu and DI Khan and work on New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) in Fateh Jhang will also be undertaken.

In the K-P, where the PML-N struggles to counter the PTI, the construction of Hazara Expressway – connecting Islamabad to Abbottabad via Havelian and Abbottabad-Mansehra Expressway – has been prioritised. In addition, the repair of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway has also been put on priority.

In Balochistan, three road networks – Bela-Awaran Highway, Basima-Khuzdar Highway and Quetta-Khuzdar Highway – have been prioritised. Another mega project, Gwadar-Hoshab Motorway via Turbat is ready and will be made operational.

In Sindh, Ratodero-Gwadar Motorway that connects the province to Balochistan, Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, Kakkar-Karachi Motorway and Lahore-Karachi Motorway (connecting Punjab to Sindh) have been listed on priority.

In Punjab, the PML-N’s political bastion, DG-Kakkar Motorway, Lahore-Karachi Motorway, Multan-Faisalabad Motorway, Multan-DG Khan Motorway and a host of inter-city and intra-city projects are prioritised.

In background discussions with The Express Tribune on Saturday, some PML-N leaders claimed that fresh allocations would not be required for the development plan. According to them, related allocations have been made in the new federal budget that came into effect on July 1.

The federal government is eyeing Rs24 billion from different countries under the head of loans for federal projects in the new budget while Punjab government eyes a mammoth Rs115 billion under foreign project assistance (FPA), in the new provincial budget, to run mega projects.

The federal government’s development plan has drawn the ire of the PTI-led KP government that accuses the centre of ‘gobbling’ its funds.  “On the one hand, they have money to run mega projects and on the other, they do not have a penny to give us,” the PTI’s MPA Sardar Idrees told The Express Tribune.

In the fiscal year 2015-16, the centre owed the K-P Rs225 billion, which it did not pay.

“Those funds stand elapsed now. It is clear the PML-N wants to discredit us by spending our money to take credit for mega projects. People need bread and butter, education, health and rule of law. Cosmetic measures in complete disregard to basic public needs always fail,” he added.

However, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah defended his party’s development agenda. “People elect us because we serve them. The PTI’s politics of agitation has been rejected by the masses. Instead of crying foul, they should concentrate on public welfare in the K-P,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2016.