PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal.
Despite its own claims, the new government seems to be following in the footsteps of its predecessors – at least as far as development funds are concerned.
Budget documents have revealed that Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has included three projects for his constituency, Narowal, in the upcoming fiscal year’s federal development budget by taking advantage of his official position. Iqbal, who is also the new deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (PC), was elected from NA-117 Narowal-III.
The three projects incorporated in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) by Iqbal are the construction of a campus of the University of Engineering & Technology Lahore and a sports complex at Narowal, along with the renovation of the Narowal Railway Station.
According to the documents, the projects have a total worth of Rs2.81 billion – 0.52% of the Rs540 billion allocated against 1,236 schemes of PSDP for 2013-14. A sum of Rs425 million has been earmarked to initiate work on these projects in the next fiscal year, they further revealed.
When asked to explain the rationale behind including the three projects in the new PSDP, PC officials remained tightlipped.
Due to the scarcity of resources, most development projects end up being delayed for years and result in further cost escalation. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has constituted a committee to identify and delete what Ahsan Iqbal himself termed ‘low priority and bogus projects of previous years’. Interestingly, this committee will be chaired by Iqbal.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (30)
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Assalam to all! i,m from Narowal. I think the best way tospend funds is on education,,,establishing new colleges/universities.. otherwise, you all know, how funds are mis-spent... As long as Narowal railway station renovation, its great step for revive dying railway junction of Narowal. Once it was the busiest junction..but now situation is completely reveresed. It will be great step to renovate it to boost travel & trade in Narowal & across the country using thi sjunction.
Sports complex has been need of this area too. I know there are no play grounds for yousters to boost their sports capabilities. we too used to play cricket in open fields,,,,there is no proper play ground in this area. its too great step.
But i,ll add one more thing for respectable Minister, that he should also pay attention towards Primary & middle/high school education standards....Private school are just looting & most of them have very low stards. If government school have good stards, primary education will boost.
Allah Hafiz
@Ahsan Iqbal:
Mr Planning Minister, I appreciate that you came forward and explained your position. But let me put the record straight. I contacted the PC spokesman Asif Sheikh who refused to give any comments. Plz do not blame the reporter for negligence of your core team. best
It is irresponsible reporting the reporter didn't bother to get my version. Sports complex project is an approved project which was included in Public Sector Development Plan in 2009 when I wasn't even in government. UET, Lahore Narowal campus is not a new project, it is an ongoing project of HEC as second batch is about to be admitted. The renovation of Narowal station is part of package to modernize Hasan Abdal and Narowal stations, which large number of Sikh pilgrims use every year as both cities have Sikh religion holiest shrines. It is unfortunate that an impression was given in the story that I had included schemes without any merit. If I represent Narowal, it shouldn't mean that any legitimate scheme of Narowal has to be a politically motivated project.
@riz: Rigged votes , one may add.
A ploy to secure a life time victory in his constituency but not very different to what Raja Rental tried to do . He tried hegemonising his constitutionsies by pouring billions in development but fell victim to his own excesses. Ashan Iqbal will play his cards differently but the objective will still be the same. Ignorant constituents will take the bate.
@ishrat salim: Agreed. Basic qualification should be properly defined and observed for legislators and Public representatives.
wow what an example set by PML-N funds granted to ahsan's iqbal constituency and committe handeling these matters is also chaired by him
Three quality projects will be done for just Rs2.81 billion (0.52% of the Rs540 billion) in Narowal. What's wrong in construction of a sports complex and a campus of the University of Engineering & Technology Lahore? What's wrong in chairing a committee which is related to his ministry?
He is going to build an engineering university in a backward district of Punjab. What's wrong with this?is building a sports complex a bad thing?
@ashar: Even these Politicians are not qualified to handle budgets.....
life is beyond roads, bridges etc....we need peace, harmony, equal education, strong economy, jobs, cheap electricity, power resources, end to load shedding, end to police gardi, end to street crimes, end to price hike, end to sectarianism, end of terrorism, save Baluchistan and much more....... but we are always be-fooled...so let PML-N make these eye wash projects rather than long term planning for aforementioned problems....
@Zain:
You nailed it. No wonder nobody responded to you.
These are good projects. Just like the Metro bus but it comes down to priorities. Why are they making sports complexes and univerisities (people can enroll in universities in other cities on merit) when there are other pressing matters to attend to. Dont they see the health sector where we have lost children to measles, dont they see the infant mortality rate, or the children literacy rate etc.This is being done only for political mileage like most of their projects. These showcase projects are not what we need right now.
Another quality article from ET, how dare he allot 3 projects out of 1236 and how can he chair a committee in a ministry he holds, how can he develop a university in Narowal and spend money on education when only the illiterate vote for PMLN. I must be missing something....
This is a sad beginning.....
@ishrat salim: Then local government members should be qualified to handle the budgets.
Discretionary funds should be banned.....development funds should be spent by local govt members not MNAs & MPAs.....period.
These are good projects. People of Narowal and sorroundings will benefit from it, Innshallah.
Not a good example....
@Jibbirana: open your eye and count the difference of votes.
Mr. Aamir; these politicians spend public money to inaugurate these projects and put brass name plates costing a lot of money to government account.
All MPAs and MNAs love to display their name plates after projects completions with public money. Mr. Ehsan Iqbal in no exception, PLM-N never claimed that will bring change in society and as ambassador of status-co, he will make sure to gain on public spending and inaugurate with lot of fun and fair on public exchequer. This is a routine politics loved by the leaders and their Chamchas alike. A study may be made to assess the cost of hundreds of thousands name plates on the Pavements, Streets and roads sides bearing the names and their ingratiation ceremonies charged to Government accounts. These popularity contest results in lot of political gains beside financials gains to the contractors supporting their political targets..
This is just one aspect of political benefit of public spending.
A Peshawary
Pakistan politics is divided based on language, cast, color same as our provinces and this is not healthy. I honestly see that directions given by PML-N are not right. Their decisions will increase distances among provinces and common people.
ET why dont we see any report about the notorious RO plants of Sind that have already consumed 8 Billion with no results at all. A joint venture of Tappi and company.
So whats wrong with it. And the project must have been in pipeline of approval already before the minister took oath. Please dont make it a point against the gentleman
Of course- he has to pay out all those goons who helped him rig the elections in his constituency and that is what is called PSDP in Pakistan
What are they planning to achieve by spending so much money in his constituency, I hope they are not going to build gold plated roads and brides leading to Mr. Ahsan's house.
Why can't they allocate this sum to alleviate power outage.
So one out of 272 constituency areas (0.36%) or since the projects will expand beyond a constituency, one out of 133 districts (0.73%, population wise 0.87% of the country) received 0.52% of PSDP funds. How is that unfair or shocking? Terrible reporting.
Punch line of the article: "Interestingly, this committee will be chaired by Iqbal."
Well I am not surprised because I am from NAROWAL and i know how he defeated Abrar ul Haq. There is whole different person behind Ahsan Iqbal's smiling face.
Democracy is the best revenge