US funds: IG Punjab pays no heed to Shahbaz’s policy decision
Despite tall claims made recently by the Punjab government about not living out of a “begging bowl”, in terms of accepting US funding, to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, the inspector general (IG) of police is all geared up to accept any such aid if made available, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The IG expressed this after the federal government made him an offer under the law enforcement reforms and capacity building of the police department scheme, funded by the US administration, a source revealed, requesting anonymity.
In this regard, the source adds, a letter of agreement (LoA) signed between the governments of Pakistan and the US clearly states that the donor country would provide funds worth $110 million to Pakistan for the execution of the project in all provinces.
Of the total funds available, the federal government’s economic affairs division proposed a sum of $6 million for capacity building of the Punjab police as a component of the “federal” project.
Directing the IG to bear in mind the policy stance Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken regarding US funds, the planning and development department invited comments from the Punjab home secretary and the IG, with a utility plan, for opting to get a share in the finances in question.
The funds being allocated to the Punjab police under various schemes were embarrassingly small compared to funds being allocated to other provincial police organisations, the IG submitted in his reply.
Unless the economic affairs division agrees to revisit the distribution, the Punjab police would not recommend that the provincial government accept such a scheme.
The IG remained reluctant to bring up the Punjab chief minster’s good-bye policy to US funds because the police department is hoping for colossal quantities of the funds, if available. The IG’s viewpoint is a clear contradiction of the Punjab government’s policy decision, a senior police official said, requesting to remain anonymous.
“This is completely absurd. The Punjab police do not need a single penny,” Public Relations Director Nabeela Ghazanfar said.
These funds would prove useful but the Punjab government has dismissed the begging bowl concept as a policy decision, hence, now there is no justification for obtaining such funds, a senior Punjab government official said, while requesting anonymity.
In May, the government of Punjab refused to accept grants and funds from the US after the Osama bin Laden fiasco. The decision was taken in order to deter the US from using its financial assistance as a negotiation tool on various important issues to impose conditions for fulfilling its designs, the official added. Under the policy, the Punjab government turned down USAID funds worth $223 million for two projects meant for uplifting the southern part of the province.
The Punjab government decided it would take loans and grants from countries like China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia among others, which did not attach conditions with the financial assistance, as well as from donor agencies such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank, JICA, International Funds for Agriculture Development and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2011.
COMMENTS (8)
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@Imran i think there some discrimination in you mind and try to correct that, i am just shocked, we don't talk, why we are taking this money, why we don't build it our own, Please Don't Beak Pakistan and Pakistanis, and don't be fool in supporting any so called political party, they are all same.
I would also say, what Tribune is doing, while in moderation, this is a big question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What foolish/dis-tracked people we are, just imagine, we are ready to accept anything for Money, no matter what they will do in police department and what they are doing right now.
@Kashif, if this is true, i would say Mian Brothers can't do anything except to get fame, i know, some people would say, he went here and there and have done such thing, i will ask all these including Zardari/etc just need fame,
why we don't understand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The better debate should be, how we can understand and get the right people who know/understand and can deliver what people need these days?
its bad that the sindhi run govt is discrminating against punjab in everything and here too is giving too little share
The way the federal government is dissipating the money between the federating units in itself is a question. And the matter, Punjab Govt's action.....lets wait and see, what they got to offer.
Khadam-e-Aala's government is running on massive overdrafts from the State Bank of Pakistan. Each and every Rupee borrowed by the Punjab Government has to paid off by the taxpayers.
punjab is the only provice running on overdraft. If the Federal Govt stops funding, the whole province will come to a stand still.
If the funds are made available to all of Pakistan's provinces, why shouldn't the Punjab also avail itself of funds to improve services. If you examine the Chief Minister's comments, he did not rule out foreign aid from the US or any nation as long as there were no strings attached. Punjab remains the best run province for a reason. That being the practicality and work of Shahbaz Sharif.