Rs13.19b budget approved in 20 mins

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Thursday approved a supplementary budget worth Rs13.19 billion for the current financial year in a record time of 20 minutes. The session that met after a two-day break was chaired by Deputy Speaker Syed Matiullah Agha.

Non development expenditures in the supplementary budget have been estimated to be Rs2.46 billion. Taking part in the debate, PML-Q  MPA Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhel, who is also Balochistan’s former finance minister suggested that the PSDP should be revised under the supervision of the chief minister. He claimed that most of the schemes are prepared in a haphazard way having no economic impact on any constituency or the overall society. He emphasized that the government should evolve a strategy in order to ensure development work in the province.

Members of the Assembly criticized the president of Tehreek-i-Insaaf Imran Khan for his remarks regarding the Balochistan Assembly saying Khan should be summoned for an explanation. Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Asad Baloch raised this matter on a point of order, saying that Khan’s knowledge is restricted to cricket. He does not even know how many districts there are in Balochistan. Other law makers also condemned the remarks made by Imran Khan. “Imran will be welcomed in Quetta with eggs and tomatoes,” said Asim Kurd.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2010.