Political instability stalls tourism projects

Frequent removal of officials has led to an uncertain future for certain departmental plans

LAHORE:

As talk of another change in government becomes rife in Punjab, the biggest loser after the populace will be the bureaucracy, which will become incapable of functioning due to the uncertainty.

It is this instability that has already adversely impacted the province’s tourism projects. The constant shuffling of senior officers of various governmental departments, which has plagued Punjab since April, has led to many projects not seeing the light of day or being put on hold - in this year alone the provincial tourism department has had 3 different secretaries.

Consequently, the department’s plans to operate electric boats in various lakes and rivers across Punjab, installation of chair lifts and cable cars at Fort Munro, and plans to promote tourism in South Punjab have all been put on hold. Shafqat Ali, a former officer of the Planning and Development Department, commenting on what uncertainty does to the bureaucracy, said that whenever there is political instability in the province or country, departments start facing difficulties in getting funds.

“Every Chief Minister (CM) wishes to implement their own policies rather than being the torchbearer of their predecessor,” Ali remarked, adding that this results in projects of the previous government being delayed. Ali further said that transfers of senior officers, like Secretaries and Director Generals, in quick succession kills morale in the entire department.

“The department knows that every new head will come with their own policies and priorities. They are also aware that sometimes the new person in charge will divert funds from already operational projects to entirely new projects,” he explained. In the case of the Punjab Tourism Department, Rs 1,220 million was allocated for 17 new and 22 old schemes by the Hamza Shahbaz led government, for the current financial year. The money was meant to be utilised on major projects like, construction and improvement of tourist spots in Kotli Sattian and Uchhali Lake; purchase of land for places of tourist importance in Sargodha; construction of Aqua Park in Changa Manga; and chairlift and cable cars for Fort Munro. Furthermore, the tourism department was to use the money to complete other projects like the renovation and decoration of the Amb Temple in Khushab, the tomb of Dai Anga, the tomb of Shahzada Pervez; and the construction of Kos Minar in Lahore.

However, nearly all of these projects have been left incomplete. Asia Gul, the present Secretary of the Punjab Tourism Department, when asked about projects being stalled due to the frequent changes in departmental leadership, said that work was underway on some projects. “Three projects had to be dropped this year. However, 17 new schemes were approved for the current financial year at a cost of Rs 1,693 million - work on seven of these is underway, whereas five are in the tendering process,” the Secretary informed. She further said that 14 projects from the previous year had already been completed and 14 more will be completed by the end of the financial year.

“Change of government does not have much of an impact on our projects if the budget has been approved and funds have been allocated,” said Gul while talking to the Express Tribune.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2022.