PA approves demand for Rs583bn grants


Nauman Tasleem June 21, 2010

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously approved 43 demands for grants worth Rs583 billion.

Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal chaired the session.

The demands for the grants were read out by Finance Minister, Tanveer Ashraf Kaira. Since the opposition had boycotted the session, the demands were approved unanimously – without any cut motions.

The opposition had earlier moved seven cut motions, demanding the revision of allocations to police, health services, industries, irrigation, general administration and agriculture sectors. But due to the boycott, there was no debate on them and the demands were approved without any hurdle.

Some of the members criticised the statement of the US Special Representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke and called for moving a resolution against it. MPA Rana Afzal criticised Holbrooke’s statement. He urged the assembly to take notice of the statement and pass a resolution condemning it. “This is an attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan,” Afzal added. MPA Saeed Akbar Niwani also took a similar stance and spoke vehemently against the statement.

False report on south Punjab

Earlier, while summing up the budget debate, Kaira thanked the members for their suggestions. He criticised some of the opposition members for forging figures and defended the budget proposals. “We spent Rs110 billion by May this year on the development of the province,” he said, adding that the opposition’s claim of spending only Rs75 billion is false.

He also criticised Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood for presenting what he called a “false report” about southern Punjab. Kaira said the World Bank (WB) had never presented any report, in which it had compared the spending of the Punjab government. “I have verified it from WB and would like to correct Makhdoom that no such report had ever been prepared for any of Punjab’s cities,” he said, adding that the current government has increased spending in South Punjab. The finance minister also said the government had allocated large amounts for agriculture and irrigation. “These sectors are the backbone of our economy. The government has allocated Rs200 million for the construction of 200 mini dams in the Potohar area,” Kaira added.

Huge funds allocated

Kaira also informed the assembly that Punjab had started work on electricity generation from provincial hydel sources. “The Asian Development Bank has given Rs4 billion for starting construction work on five sites,” he said. Kaira said South Punjab had been allocated a huge share; therefore, it was useless to criticise the government for ignoring the area. He said the government had also decided to establish committees, which would monitor disbursement of allocated funds and make sure the money was spent properly.

He also congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for a balanced budget.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

Muhammad Amjad | 13 years ago | Reply Corruption he Corruption Against counter number six in reservation office of Multan Cantt. Railway Station. In my front a young man was want to take some reservation of seats in train. On other side of counter a quite young girls was present. She takes near about 40 minutes to take print from printer for that reservation. But all these incidents were shocking. When she want return remaining amount to that person which give her Rs.1000 note. But she was not able to subtract Rs.330 from out of Rs.1000.because she was not able to subtract or solve this small problem. After using calculator she was still confused how much amount she will return to that person. Again she tries to solve this small problem on paper but she again failed. After this situation she was so confused that she calls a colleague girl which was on her left side seat. Her colleague replies her loudly and tells that you return Rs.670.than she open draws and start to count cash and return to person outside the counter. When that boy cry loudly and says BiBi you return me Rs.630 rather than Rs.670.some more examples from banking sector was present in NBP Tehsil Khan Pur where just non professional and unqualified people was inducted on OG2 posts. They have just simple B.A degree with typical arts subjects after taking third divisions in F.A and Matric (with arts).one thing they completed almost all qualification from entire Sindh like Shikar pur and Ghotki etc. which everyone knows that all students move to give papers because in entire Sindh they openly used syllabus books to solve papers. But my question is who save Pakistan?? where talent are searching for jobs but no one want to give them job. Those people which do not know what are basics of accounting and mathematical operations, How they inducted and who inducted them in these departments. Is the higher authorities are responsible for these inductions or they forward this blame on politicians rather than the duty of honestly induction of these employees are on bureaucracy or the policy makers of state Bank / Banking counsel of Pakistan / Pakistan Railway. Where go those youngsters which have professional degrees (MBA, MCS, BBA,BCS) from recognized and well known universities of Pakistan. Who justify these kinds of inductions in Govt. Departments and who furnish justice to this talented nation? These politicians which are elected / won through election just taking 10% to 11% votes from their constituency. Is this kind of people have right to say they representative of that constituency from where 90% voters not interested to give them the vote. Pakistan need reforms or restrictions for elections that from anywhere in Pakistan minimum 90% vote must be cast otherwise that those areas exempted from election or cancel those results where polling less than 90%. These areas must be under control of Governor or Chief Minister of related province for some period of time. During this period awareness must be given those population related to importance of Vote. So that, we take real representatives of related constituencies. Chaudhry Muhammad Amjad Software Engineer
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