Nawaz’s special packages remain mere promises

Little to no implementation has been seen on multi-billion rupee projects promised by former PM

KARACHI: It seems like the generosity of the government extends only to making promises. An example of this can be seen in the special packages announced by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for various cities in Sindh.

After a four-year gap, Nawaz finally made inroads in the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) powerbase in rural Sindh and attempted to win people’s votes in exchange for multi-billion rupee schemes but so far no work has begun on the promised packages.

On March 9 Nawaz held his first public meeting in Thatta where he announced a special health package for Thatta and Sujawal districts. The package included the establishment of a 500-bed hospital, Rs1.1 billion for gas schemes, Rs500 million for the Gharo-Keti Bunder Road and Rs200 million for water supply and sanitation schemes in the districts.

Apart from this, the former premier announced the construction of a barrier along the coastal belt of Thatta and Badin to prevent sea erosion. “Despite the lapse of seven months, we have only been provided some health cards. There has been no progress on the development package,” said a senior local Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader. He added that they have approached the federal government regarding the issue but have not received a satisfactory response.



“If this approach continues, then we along with the elected representatives of the area will hold a press conference on the issue,” he warned, adding that PML-N itself has no mandate in the area and only bagged one MNA and three MPA seats from the district because of the Shirazi brothers’ personal influence. “People are criticising and laughing at us, calling prime minister’s announcement a political gimmick. The general elections are coming and we have to go to people for votes, so the federal government must live up to its pledge to implement former PM’s announced package,” said a PML-N MPA requesting anonymity.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Ayaz Shah Shirazi, who belongs to the district, defended the government. “We have distributed 400,000 to 500,000 health cards among people in Thatta and Sujawal districts. Each card has a Rs500,000 limit,” he explained. “Poor people are benefiting from these cards,” he claimed.

When asked about the development schemes, he said all other promised schemes are in the pipeline. “We are pursuing [the issue] and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has assured that our issues would be resolved soon,” he said.

After his Thatta visit, Sharif attended a Holi-related event organised by the Hindu community in Karachi and announced Rs500 million for the welfare of the Hindu community, also promising the establishment of the Bhagat Kanwar Ram Medical Complex in Hyderabad and renovation of the city’s gurdwara. “Not a single penny has been released for the welfare of the Hindu community, nor were funds provided for the medial complex or gurdwara,” lamented a Hindu community leader who is affiliated with the PML-N.



When inquired about progress on the promised project, PML-N minority wing leader Khehal Das Kohistani said, “The funds were about to be released but the court disqualified the prime minister and sent him packing.” He expressed his hope that he incumbent government would continue Nawaz’s policy and release the funds soon.

During the frequent visits of the former premier to Sindh, PML-N local leaders in the province had challenged the PPP and said the federal government would provide incentives in every nook and cranny of the province. On March 27, Nawaz visited Hyderabad, the second largest city in Sindh, and announced the establishment of an international airport, metro bus service for the city, public university and Rs500 million for the development and upgrade of Hyderabad city.

“I announce Rs1 billion for the establishment of a university and congratulate parents and students [on this],” Nawaz had said, criticising the PPP-led Sindh government for its failure to provide drinking water to the citizens, as well as the presence of dilapidated roads and garbage on the streets.



After this, Governor Mohammad Zubair praised the former PM’s decision. “The development package announced by the prime minister will be a catalyst in modernisation for Hyderabad city,” he had said. However, since that visit, no serious efforts have been made to pursue Nawaz’s initiatives.

Barely two weeks after the Hyderabad visit, Nawaz addressed a rally in Jacobabad, where he announced a Rs1 billion package for the establishment of a vocational training centre for women. Nothing, however, has been done and the residents of Jacobabad are desperately awaiting implementation.

PPP leaders have taken jabs at Nawaz’s announcements. “Pakistan’s economy is in shambles. Nawaz Sharif should focus on Punjab, especially southern Punjab, where the socio-economic situation has compelled people to sleep on empty stomachs,” said PPP Sindh president and Parliamentary Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.



Instead of implementing Nawaz’s earlier announcements, Prime Minister Abbasi decided to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and, during his recent visit to Naushero Feroz district, announced a Rs2.5 billion package for an infrastructural uplift, provision of gas, electricity and construction of roads.

Federal Minister for Industries and Production Murtaza Jatoi, who had invited the prime minister to the district, said in the last nine years of its tenure, the PPP had totally neglected their areas. It is a good omen that the federal government announced something for them, he said.

“At least they have announced the package. The time will soon come when the federal government will finally release the funds,” he predicted.

Senior analyst and writer Ayoub Shaikh said that since there is no political leadership in Pakistan, such announcements come through political managers to appease people. “Nawaz Sharif knows that he only has stakes in Punjab and cannot form a government in other provinces, so he makes such statements,” he said, adding that there was huge gap between what was said and what is done.



“One and a half years ago, when drought hit Tharparkar, Nawaz Sharif had also announced Rs1 billion for the area, but no one knows what happened to it,” he said.

Though the former prime minister announced packages for different districts, confusion abounded around who would execute them. Shirazi said that all the projects would be executed by the federal government. “The Water and Power Development Authority, Sui Gas, Pakistan public works department, National Highway Authority and water and power ministry are supposed to undertake different schemes,” he said.