ISLAMABAD:
Simple: the government might retreat on what was an impressive proposal.
Despite an official announcement that the premier would vacate the Prime Minister’s House and move to a smaller residence to observe simplicity, Yousaf Raza Gilani is “changing his mind”.
Sources in PM House told The Express Tribune that the premier is unlikely to leave the premises, after the idea was opposed by a majority of cabinet members and Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentarians.
However, keeping its word to establish an institute of advanced studies at the PM House, the government is now considering to use part of the 63-acre vacant land to build a state-of-the-art institute, they added.
Sources said that cabinet members were of the view that the PM House belongs to the nation and is also a symbol of the nation’s pride; thus, it should not be used for any other purpose.
They added that Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah raised questions like where the government would entertain visiting heads of states and how ordinary people could be given access to the red zone.
Furthermore, it seems that a move initiated in the name of observing austerity may cost the nation a couple of billions of rupees more.
“The prime minister has also announced to give Rs1 billion to build the institute,” said Senator Sughra Imam of the PPP. However, when contacted, Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh said that the premier was still sticking to the original proposal but added there was no harm in debating other proposals.
Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance also recommended the premier to not vacate the house. It also turned down a proposal by Senator Ilyas Bilour of the Awami National Party that instead of vacating the residence the premier should cut its budget by Rs200 million and allocate it to resolving the energy crisis.
However, Senator Humayun Khan Mandokhel, an independent senator from Balochistan, said the nation should not allow its leaders to live lavish lives at taxpayers’ expense anymore.
“If Germany’s chancellor and the UK’s prime minister can reside in small flats, why can’t Pakistan’s Prime Minister who is leader of a poor nation,” he said.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (29)
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These symbolic gestures will not solve the budgetary problems. Pakistan has to cut down the size of the government by deregulating the economy, professionalizing the bureaucracy (over staffing is because of a non professional bureaucracy) and misuse of funds through travelling, telephones and entertainment.
A virus that has gripped the whole nation and yet people are careless to deal with it, fate of Pakistan.
This PPP govt. and its cronies and allies have broken all records of hypocrisy and lies.
who cares where he lives..................
Flip flop. As usual. Anything goes. As usual.
"the government is now considering to use part of the 63-acre vacant land to build a state-of-the-art institute"...Isnt this what Imran Khan said that he would do when he comes to power? The guy who has no ideology or plans according to you! Then Y U COPY HIM???
PPP and PMLN take us for fools. And why not, we voted for them, still support them in the name of democracy and we are not rising up against them. Less democratic nations have had revolutions. Shame on us! Also, democracy cannot work until we the finish feudal system. Every past election is a testimony to this.
He has taken so many U-turns , one wont bother this CRIME MINISTER of Pakistan
"PM House belongs to the nation and is also a symbol of the nation’s pride" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So is the dear PM.
'and how ordinary people could be given access to the red zone.'
That tells a lot and we deserve to have such leaders - after all we chose them!
Well there's a surprise!!
Pm was just scoring points when he said that i had dedicated this house for an educational institute to be build on....our politicians know the art of misguiding the nation well, and when the time comes they betray!!!
Maybe Hafeez Shaikh was talking about the future, i.e. when Gilani loses the election.
what a joke - typical ppp
Yes the security is the issue but the PM should cut its expenses to live a simple live when the their tenure is coming to an end, Another way to make the nation fool.
The President House and Prime Minister House belongs to nation and are not personal properties permanently attached to individuals. Instead of doing the cheap stunts of publicity, they should rather reduced the wastage and bring down the expenses of these places to a bare minimum by adopting simplicity.
I offer my congratulations to probably the worst Prime minister Pakistan has ever had. We deserve him.
PM House.. National Symbol of Pride??? We have already forgotten what PRIDE is a long time ago.... Just get out of the House and leave us alone.......
He is our national symbol of corruption. How can someone who wears $25000 coat move to a smaller simpler house. It's against his prestige.
What about the house being used for weddings?
First step towards Mini budgets!
If it's a national symbol then give it to the youth. Why does one man gets to enjoy everything?
"The PM house is a national symbol." What a joke!
This man and his family has set an example of their own. Of what you all probably know!
Need to be dragged out of PM house!!
Such is the state of indecisiveness.... What would they do on the other "bigger" issues???