Sindh received 28% less money from federal transfers

Provincial govts suffer as centre fails to meet its recovery targets, says CM

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that instead of concentrating on achieving its revenue and recovery targets, the federal government has entangled itself in unconstitutional adventures which were bound to further weaken the economy.

He said that the federal government's recoveries had worsened to such an extent that 28% less funds were transferred to the provincial government than its share in the pool.

"This shows that they [federal government] are facing 28% shortfall in their recoveries, therefore they have given 28% less funds [to Sindh government] during these few months," the CM said, adding that they should focus on better recoveries instead of indulging in unconstitutional activities such as changing loyalties of Pakistan
Peoples Party (PPP) MPAs in Sindh.

"At the end of the day, the provincial governments would suffer due to inefficiency, incapacity, illplanning and bad recoveries of the federal government," he said.

CM Murad expressed these views while talking to media after a surprise visit to the Sindh Secretariat at 9am on Tuesday. Murad said that during his visit, he held a meeting with the finance department officials and found a shortfall of 28% in the federal transfers during the last few months.

"It is not only surprising for me but it has made me upset. How will the provincial government meet its expenditures when federal transfers are declining to such an extent," he said and urged the Centre to focus on increasing its efficiency and capacity.

Quoting the statement of PPP Chairman Bilawal, he advised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, "You [federal government] are a minority government in the centre, therefore you should try to save yourselves".

He said that 172 MNAs are required to form the federal government and asked, "How many does the PTI have in the National Assembly?" He added that compared to them, "PPP has 99 MPAs in the Sindh Assembly out of 168".

He advised the PTI government to assess its position before starting to jump. Speaking about his name on the Exit Control List (ECL), Shah said that he had no interest to undertake foreign trips. "After taking over as chief minister I have gone only to China to attend a CPEC related meeting," he said adding that all four chief ministers were supposed to attend ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting but none attended except him.

He said, "Now, my participation in JCC meeting, in which I took up the development projects of Sindh has caused a pain in their [federal government] stomach. Therefore, they have put my name on the ECL so that they can keep me away from my development endeavours for Sindh".

Surprise visit to Sindh Secretariat

Earlier, the chief minister paid a surprise visit to different departments located in the secretariat, Tughluq House and finance department block. During his visit he found most of the secretaries absent from their offices. He held two meetings in the secretariat, one with the finance department and the other with the planning and development department where Chairperson M Waseem briefed him about the pace of the on-going development schemes. Later, the chief minister wrote a letter to the chief secretary stating that only a few secretaries were present in their offices during his visit. He told the chief secretary that the lack of discipline was not acceptable and directed him to take necessary measures to ensure all officers reached offices on time.