The sports minister refused to accept the proposed budget for the upcoming year until the funds for development schemes from last year’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) are released and received.
During the Sindh Assembly session on Friday, Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro called out the minister, Dr Muhammad Ali Shah’s name to share his views on the budget. Without mincing his words, Dr Shah complained that two schemes — on the construction of small playgrounds and sporting facilities in some districts of Sindh — could not be started because the department had no money.
He pointed out that these schemes can be traced in the ADP book from the year 2010-2011 under serial numbers 451 and 452. “I won’t accept this budget until the previous schemes are approved and their funds are released,” he said.
Since he belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he reiterated the party’s stance on imposing an agriculture tax. He said that people living in urban areas are already paying property and water taxes. Paying only water tax out of the total amount earned by a landlord was not a strong justification, he said.
Trauma centre in Sehwan Sharif
Dr Shah appreciated the government’s proposal to build a trauma centre in Sehwan Sharif. It will greatly help people in the rural areas who often face difficulties in rushing critical patients to Karachi, he said.
He advised the provincial finance minister to appoint postgraduate doctors to these trauma centres so that they are technically equipped to deal with emergency cases. Postgraduate doctors would certainly serve in rural areas if special packages are announced for them, he assured.
Earlier in his speech, he condemned the killing of Olympian boxer Abrar Hussain in Quetta. He was a national asset that had been lost, he said.
Wheat prices
Minister for Agriculture Ali Nawaz Shah said that the floods had caused immense damage to the province. Nearly 2.2 million acres were inundated along with huge crops of rice and wheat. During the year 2010, the wheat requirement was 3.4 million tons and 3.7 million tons were produced. He said that the government is considering a mechanism to adjust wheat prices.
Law and order
The Pakistan Peoples Party inherited the complicated law and order situation from the previous government but it has improved it to quite an extent, said Minister for Population Welfare Ali Mardan Shah. Crimes are reported in developed countries, such as the US, as well, he said. He hoped Pakistan would get rid of such problems soon.
Women recruitment
Referring to the recruitment of women in government institutions, Minister for Women Development Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto lauded the government for introducing the Benazir Income Support Programme and other similar initiatives to reduce poverty and inflation. The session ended at 12:45 pm and the next one will be held at 9:30 am today (Saturday). A total of 81 members have spoken during the first five days of the budget session.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.
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