Only 30% of development funds utilised: Opposition

MQM-P MPA says money is not provided for their schemes

KARACHI: The Opposition members in the Sindh Assembly cried foul during the pre-budget session on Monday claiming that they were not given development funds and their schemes were ignored while the Treasury members claimed that Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) government had broken all past records of development.

"Billions of rupees are allocated on development funds, but utilisation is minimal. Where does this money go?" Khawaja Izharul Hassan of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) questioned. He accused the PPP government for ignoring Karachi and said, "Up to Rs100 million each have been allocated for different schemes in Karachi but despite the passage of eight months, no one knows when these schemes will be started. This is injustice with the city which is the economic engine of Pakistan."

He said, "We are also elected representatives of this House and people have voted for us. We deserve equal rights then why funds are not given to us to carry out development schemes in our constituencies?" Hassan added that a sense of being deprived compelled them to demand a separate province and criticised the provincial government for utilising zero amount on dozens of development schemes in the province.

Nand Kumar Goklani of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) said that Rs40 million were given to each Treasury member under community development fund, but Opposition members were ignored. He asked for a proper mechanism to monitor the development work and suggested to hand over the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) to Opposition to look into the accounts of various departments. He added that there was a total Rs258 billion development portfolio of the province of which only 30% has been utilised so far. "Out of 2,250 schemes, the government has initiated the work on only 500 schemes," Goklani remarked. He questioned the status of Rs4 billion allocated for the nutrition programme and drew the attention of the House towards 1,500 ghost doctors sacked by the chief minister (CM) form various districts and said, "Despite the orders, these doctors are drawing salaries and other perks and privileges."

Goklani, who had earlier moved a bill against forced conversion said, "The law was passed, but the then governor refused to give assent to it. Once again, I have moved the bill, I request you to  please take it up and give the minority the rights promised by the founder of this nation," he said adding that the minor girls belonging to Hindus community were being forcibly converted, which is not only inhuman practice, but a breach of human rights law as well.

Agriculture dept initiatives

Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu, briefing the House about the initiatives in his department, said that cold storages were being made for fruits and vegetables. "We will soon finalise the construction of these cold storages in Karachi and Tando Allahyar," he said.

Responding to the speeches of Opposition members, he said, "People sitting in Islamabad who have never even seen Thar are talking on the death of children in the area." He also lashed out at MQM-P MPAs for demanding a separate province and said, "This is a dream, which can't come true."

Thar coal

Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh lauded the Sindh government's effort to generate 660MW (megawatts) from Thar coal and said, "We will  produce around 4,500MW from one block in coming days." He added that Sindh government is going to launch another 100-million-dollar project in Thar, which will boost investment in the area. "Around 15 wind mill projects are almost complete in Gharo and Jhampir, but the federal government is creating problem for it," he remarked. He was of the view that Sindh government was also working on solar and bio gas plants.

Rafique Banhan of GDA refused to buy PPP claims and said, "They have done nothing in last 11 years. People are dying for water in Badin and other areas of Sindh. I will salute the government if they resolve only this issue." 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2019.