Crippling figure: K-P in dire straits with Rs132 billion debt

Finance Minister Sirajul Haq claims corruption is the province’s biggest problem.

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Finance Sirajul Haq on Sunday said the province had debt liabilities amounting to Rs132 billion. Winding up the budget debate on the assembly floor Haq claimed the amount stood at Rs66 billion when he resigned as erstwhile NWFP finance minister in 2006.

“When I took over as finance minister in 2002, the province’s debt liabilities stood at Rs70 billion. We worked constantly to bring it down to Rs66 billion,” he said. Haq maintained corruption was the largest problem faced by K-P. “Controlling it (corruption) can help the province repay its massive debt. There are inherent flaws in our institutions, but this house and government can remove them.”



Haq admitted the government had no time to consult lawmakers, chambers and other stakeholders in forming the budget. He assured, however, that they would be taken onboard in future budgets. Haq also said the government had slashed its expenses by cutting expenditures of the chief minister and governor house by 15 percent.

Government priorities

Shedding light on the government’s development goals, Haq informed K-P’s annual development program (ADP) comprised of about 983 projects, of which 609 were ongoing. He said this was the first time the ADP fund had crossed Rs100 billion, adding the government was interested in continuing projects already initiated by the previous government. “This is why ongoing projects have 53% of the ADP.”

Addressing complaints from MPAs regarding the stoppage of their development funds, Haq said the government had created a pool of Rs10 billion and would consult members about development priorities in their constituencies before distributing this amount.



On the topic of education, the finance minister said it was imperative to provide uniform facilities across K-P. “Before introducing a uniform curriculum and examination system, it is necessary for the government to provide uniform facilities in all schools,” he said. “Teacher promotions and allowances should depend on results.”

He added there were currently five religious seminary examination boards in the country, with many others corresponding to other types of education. “By introducing a uniform education system, a nation can be constructed out of Pakistan’s deeply varied ethnicities.”

Regarding healthcare, Haq said there were around 1,600 hospitals for a population of 20 million. “There is one doctor for every 1,600 people,” he added. “The government has decided to provide free emergency cover in all district headquarters hospitals.”

On the topic of energy, the minister said the province was spending around Rs38 billion on hydel-resources. He further said the government had conducted a feasibility study of 20 projects, which could generate about 25,000 megawatts. He also asked the federal government not to support projects like the Kalabagh and Basha dams and invest in generating electricity from Chitral and Panjkora rivers. “But it seems Islamabad’s bureaucracy does not want this to happen,” he alleged.

He said the government had allocated Rs93 billion in public sector development programmes for the ongoing year. He claimed, however, that out of the four billion released, only two billion was utilised. “KP is slated to get Rs 84 billion, and if these funds are released it will solve the province’s financial issues.”

Finally, Haq maintained improving the law and order situation was the first and foremost responsibility of the federal and provincial governments.

Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Nighat Orakzai had drawn the house’s attention to the killing of foreign tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan. Orakzai asked the assembly to pass a joint resolution on the matter, but Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Israrullah Khan Gandapur opposed the move saying it could be presented at a later stage as several agendas were still pending currently.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2013.