CM blames NAB, FIA for Sindh’s slow progress

Says curbing corruption is provincial matter and federal entities must not interfere

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said taking action against corruption is a provincial subject and federal entities like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) must not interfere in the affairs of a province.

“The action against corruption is purely a provincial subject. There is anti-corruption establishment. NAB and the FIA have nothing to do with provincial affairs,” Shah said in an exclusive talk with The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

The CM, who belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), also suggested amending the existing federal law governing NAB and referred to the accountability law passed by the Sindh Assembly some time ago.

“We passed the bill but implementation on it is getting delayed due to negative propaganda against it,” he said.



The FIA is currently probing PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, MNA Faryal Talpur, in connection with a multi-billion-rupee money laundering scam. NAB has also stated investigations and inquiries against various provincial and central leaders of the PPP which rules Sindh province.

Taking with reference to these cases, Shah held NAB and the FIA responsible for “slow pace of development” in the province.

“The sword of Damocles is hanging over our head. Some officers have capability issues but those who have potential are also afraid of these inquiries,” he said.

“Everyone criticised us when we raised this issue, but the same thing is being replicated in Punjab and other provinces [now] where political leaders are making a hue and cry [over NAB actions],” he added.

Failure to deliver

The Sindh CM said his government failed to achieve its targets in education and health sectors due to “various hurdles and pressures groups”.

“In my previous tenure, I had appointed good people in my cabinet, but unfortunately they could not give tangible results in education and health sectors where I had declared emergency. I accept it. But I have not given up. I have once again taken up this issue with a new team and will achieve targets now.”

“It’s not my personal failure [however]. Unfortunately institutions are not working up to the mark. Our orders are not implemented in letter and spirit, apparently because various departments and institutions lack capacity to bring about the change. We have to build the capacity of our institutions,” he said.

K-4 project a distant dream

Talking about the K-4 water project that is being carried jointly by the provincial and federal governments to provide 650 MGD water to Karachi in three phases, the chief minister expressed serious concern over its feasibility report made during the tenure of Pervez Musharraf, the former military dictator.

“The cost of this project has increased from Rs25 billion to Rs63 billion. The government was supposed in the first phase to provide 260 MGD per day by the next year, but it’s not possible,” he added.

The CM said soon after awarding the contact, the government added Rs5 billion to the cost for land acquisition. Later, another Rs3 billon were added on the request of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), he added.

“As per an understanding between the provincial and federal governments, share of the federal government was Rs12 billion and Sindh had agreed to spend Rs21 billion on this project. But the FWO officials approached again for adding Rs20 billion for revamping the pipelines and their alignment in the city,” he said.

“Now they are demanding Rs10 billion for missing facilities for the project. It means cost of this project will increase from Rs61 to 63 billion,” he said, adding that the citizens of Karachi would be able to quench their thirst from this project within two years.

To a question about how his government would establish a desalination plant announced to be set up in association with the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC), the CM said, “Given the past experience, I am also curious about the project, but we will do it with a new and vibrant team.”



Karachi Circular Railways

Talking with reference to the Karachi Circular Railways project, he said, “This project was part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but it has also been delayed due to federal government’s lukewarm response.”

The CM said the project was supposed to be launched in December 2017, but the railways refused to provide land. “We held different meetings with Chinese companies to start work on this project releasing 15% of the amount, but the federal government’s delaying tactics compelled the Chinese companies.” He said the Sindh government would again approach the Chinese government to initiate this scheme.

Meritocracy

On the appointment of unelected people as special assistants and advisers, the CM said, “The court has now set the condition [only to appoint an elected member to such posts]. I have appointed these people to assist me.”

He said the Sindh government had contained the law and order situation in Karachi and other districts and “the situation in Sindh is better than in other provinces”.

The CM said in the July 25 general elections, the PPP got more seats than in the 2013 polls. “This success reflects our government’s better performance,” he added.