War of words: PTI leaders question Sindh’s health funds distribution

KARACHI: Responding to heavy criticism of the recently announced 2020-21 budget 2020-21 by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Haleem Adil Sheikh raised questions over PPP's disbursement of funds in Sindh's health sector.

Addressing a press conference along with Sindh Assembly opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Sheikh questioned the rationale behind the PPP-led provincial government channelling funds worth Rs300 million to the Indus Hospital instead of public healthcare facilities, while doctors and other staff at government hospitals continued to protest the non-availability of personal protective equipment.

He further pointed out that the Indus Hospital, "continuing to run on just eight ventilators," made the move even more questionable.

"Why is the same amount not allocated for Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre or Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital?" he objected.

Noting that 111 healthcare facilities had been handed over to NGOs in Sindh, he claimed that the facilities were still in bad shape.

"On the other hand, the federal government had allocated Rs13 billion for hospitals in Sindh and we will run them efficiently," the MPA assured.

Meanwhile, Naqvi called for an audit of funds released for the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Sheikh also spoke about the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SDCL), which has been a bone of contention between the Centre and Sindh of late.

He said that the company had been working to develop the province but the PPP had an issue over the matter as "it is not happy with it installing reverse osmosis plants in Thar." The MPA accused the Sindh government of large-scale corruption, in collusion with a private conglomerate, under the guise of installing RO plants in the desert district.

Defending the increase in defence budget, Naqvi said cutting it was not possible "due to multiple threats to the country," adding that if the opposition found the budget full of loopholes, they may present a shadow budget.

Sheikh, though admitting that government employees' salaries should have been increased, said that the PPP was unhappy with the budget as taxes were increased on luxury goods while daily-use commodities were made cheaper.

He accused the PPP of criticising the budget without even reading it and warned that the PTI, too, may respond in the same vein when the Sindh budget was presented.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2020.