Gifts and entertainment

Reallocation of the gifts and entertainment fund should be contributed towards alleviating poverty

Reallocating the budget earmarked for gifts and entertainment at the discretion of the Prime Minister House is a move that will receive gratitude from all of the masses but primarily, the sizeable population that lives below the poverty line. This was an imperative call to make as previous governments misappropriated funds frivolously and for personal benefit at the cost of people’s suffering.

Although the amount in sum is only a fraction of funds needed to pull the country out of a previous downward economic spiral consisting largely of loans and financial aid from foreign entities, the Rs516 million will nonetheless suffice to support some programmes and facilitate the most destitute of populations. Approximately 40% of people live in multidimensional poverty, according to a report by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform citing the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2015-2016’s Multidimensional Poverty Index. Multidimensional poverty encompasses the population’s unmet needs in the areas of health, education and standard of living. The PTI’s reallocation of the gifts and entertainment fund should be contributed towards alleviating the deprivation faced in these areas by every four out of 10 Pakistanis.

It is an embarrassment to the country that as poverty levels rose, previous governments chose to remain aloof and continued to support such a spendthrift fund. In 2017, Pakistan’s budget deficit was 5.8% of the country’s GDP, not far off from an all-time high of 8.8% in 1990. Despite reaching a record low in 2012, the rising deficits in last six years demonstrate the ineptness and greed of leaders past. Given the dishonesty of previous heads of state, we support the PTI in its austerity drive and encourage that all budget allocations are explored meticulously to eliminate profligate spending. As for the reallocation of this Rs516 million, we recognise the PTI’s prioritisation of the dam fund and the advantages that a dam will provide but that enormous fundraising target will realistically need to continue for years. Instead, projects such as income support programmes for the elderly, health infrastructure and access to education remain the most pertinent factors for improving life in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2018.

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