The documents showed that Rs1.6 million worth of still cameras of high resolution were purchased for the coverage of prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. DESIGN: EMA ANIS
ISLAMABAD:
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani spent as much as Rs22.3 million on advertisements of the cabinet’s 100th session in December 2011, while his successor Raja Pervaiz Ashraf used Rs1.6 million on high-definition cameras for better quality snapshots.
According to budget documents, a supplementary budget of Rs22.3 million was given to the Press Information Department for spending on the advertisement of the cabinet’s 100th meeting in Karachi. The meeting chaired by Gilani got wide coverage in the electronic media, courtesy of then information minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan who broke into tears while tendering her resignation.
The documents showed that Rs1.6 million worth of still cameras of high resolution were purchased for the coverage of prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. The finance ministry willingly issued the supplementary budget to the PID, the documents showed.
The spending also highlights the weak controls of the finance ministry that released supplementary budgets to appease the rulers of the time.
After presiding the 100th meeting, Gilani had announced to form two different task forces for restructuring national assets in order to make them profitable and resolve the energy crisis— the goals that were never achieved.
To compensate the affected families as a result of the attack on Joseph Colony in Badami Bagh Lahore, the federal government paid Rs56 million, according to the documents. In March this year, more than 200 houses in Joseph Colony were attacked, looted and burnt by a mob.
The federal government had also borne an additional cost of Rs154 million incurred on loading and provision of logistic services to the law enforcement agencies, deployed for protection of the long march that the Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri staged from Lahore to Islamabad in January this year.
The long march had paralysed Islamabad for a week. Despite signing an agreement with the then government for implementing his six demands, nothing could be achieved but the nation sustained additional spending.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2013.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Tahirul Qadri's long march ran from Lahore to Karachi.
COMMENTS (12)
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This money should be recovered from the 2 former PMs of incompetent & corrupt PPP regime. The Babus at MoF who had allowed this theft of taxpayers money should also be punished.
And now the information ministry has let loose their goons on ET staff writers, one could see it in the above comments.
Oh Yeah, send them back to these good for nothing assemblies, Perhaps Pakistanis deserve them because they just keep on sending these hypocrites, corrupt, callused and dynastic people to rule them for decades. It is high time to abolish this boondoggle of a information ministry for ever and make these people accountable. When a corrupt government was brought in through NRO then what do you expect from them, habits just don't die that easily.
@jibran: Think many times before making comments abt Et team, your beloved Pm raja issued a Pm directive for purchasing these cameras and asked finance ministry to release money. Go and seek these files.
The writer does not have any clue how the government functions. It reminds me a comment by an old friend of mine that "one could criticize Zia-ul-Haq, but one should admit that during his tenure PTV would air good foreign films". Like the dictator was personally selecting the movie line up. Likewise The purchase of cameras by the government does not mean it was asked by the premier himself. ET please stop employing semi educated staff, who don't know anything outside their cocoon.
Do you have any crediblity?
In the 2nd last para you said Dr Qadri did a long march from Lahore to Karachi and then in the last para you said he jammed Isb for 5 days?
Like seriously?
Are 4 year old toddlers running this site?
So what else did you expect? The money was not theirs, and they thought no one could touch them for misusing it. As for the Rs. 154 million for "protection of the long march that the Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri staged from Lahore to Karachi", why not ask the Canadian cleric to pay it? His millions of supporters throughout the world should only be too happy to oblige, considering that they almost worship him.
ET, Please also report the expenses made on the promotion of Sharif Family generosity through Sasta Atta, Laptop Distribution, etc.(huge arrangements and grand media extravaganza was not out of their own pocket) Why you look through a single eye.............................ET not to be political biased.
Government should recover this money from both of them.this is also type of corruption.they do nothing but want to show to the nation that they are very busy & they are working day and night to plunder the country as maximum as possible.taxpayer paid Rs 1.6 million to see the beautiful face of raja RENTAL.
Robbery but in the name of democracy. They deserve the treatment we offer to hen or cycle thieves if we want get this country clean