‘PTI’s schemes still receiving funds’

The Ten Billion Tree Tsunami (TBTT) and the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme (NPHS), the two flagship project of the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, still continued as the present government was releasing funds for them, the National Assembly was informed on Thursday.

The session, with Deputy Speaker Zahid Durrani in the chair, passed a motion to restore the name of Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, despite its opposition from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – an ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government.

The leaderships of the current government parties had been criticising the TBTT and the NPHS, when they were in the opposition. However, the house was informed that the both these schemes continued to receive allocated funds even after the removal of the PTI government in April this year.

The house was informed that Rs22.24 billion was spent under the TBTT in the last three years. After the present government took over, the scheme continued and between April 2022 and July 2022, 261.3 million saplings had been planted across the country.

Similarly, under the NPHS, banks had so far distributed Rs99.8 billion for the construction of 28,277 houses, while Rs9.6 million was paid by the government as subsidy. Besides, the government also paid Rs7 billion to the Ukhuwat Foundation for the construction of houses.

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that the Billion-Tree Tsunami scheme in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was a provincial subject. She stressed that the Centre had no access to the corruption in the scheme but the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had taken notice of it.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the MQM—two major allies in the coalition government came face to face on restoring the old name of the airport in Islamabad. Nawabzada Iftikhar Khan moved a motion to restore the old name of Benazir Bhutto International Airport that was passed by a majority.

However, Kishwar Zehra of the MQM opposed the motion, saying that name change should not be made in a hurry. She reminded that her resolution about this was also pending. She demand that the Islamabad Airport should be named after the founding prime minsiter of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan.

Floods

Ghous Bakhsh Mahar of the opposition Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) raised the issue of floods in Sindh and Balochistan. He told the house that some members praised PTI chief Imran Khan others praised PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif but no-one cared about the people, who were drowning in floods.

Mahar stressed the need for providing seeds and fertilisers to the flood-affected farmers. In reply, Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said that measures had been taken to rehabilitate the flood-affected areas.

The minister told the lawmaker that Rs5 billion had been released to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which had started procurement of fertilisers. He assured that fertilisers, sprays and seeds would be provided to the flood-affected farmers.

Nuzhat Pathan said that nothing was left in Sindh after the floods, while the people were dying because of dengue outbreak. She added that the entire canal system has been destroyed in the province. She said what happened in Swat floods, would recur if buildings were constructed in riverbeds.

Khan Muhammad Jamali criticised the “incompetence” of the Balochistan Irrigation Department. He stressed the need for completing the Kachhi Canal. Another lawmaker Jamaluddin demanded purchase of two or three helicopters by each province so that those could be used in floods situations.

Qadir Mandokhel condemned the lack of participation of the lawmakers in the debate on the floods. He said that only five to seven members were present in the house. “There is a debate on the flood but there are no members in the House. I condemn the absence of members.”

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh called for discussing the economic policies along with floods. He said that making economic polices was the job of parliament and not of bureaucrats. “Who is responsible for the burden on the common man?” he asked.

Maulana Akbar Chitrali drew attention of the house towards receiving TV fee in the electricity bills of a mosque in his native area. He said that the mosque of his neighbourhood got the electricity bill of Rs70,000 that included TV licence fee. Who watched TV in the mosque, he asked.

Parliamentary Secretary Rana Iradat Sharif replied that the TV fee charge meant that the mosque had the electricity connection in domestic category. He advised the lawmaker that mosque management should change the connection category.

Saira Bano criticised the appointment of Kamran Tessori as the new Sindh governor. She said that she was asked not to speak on the matter in the house but added that she would raise the matter anyway. Bano claimed that the Sindh governor was not supported by any of the 14 coalition parties.

However, Sabir Qaimkhani of the MQM replied that his party recommend the name of Tessori as the Sindh governor after consultation. Later, the National Assembly session was adjourned until 11 am Friday (today).