A file photo of the Balochistan assembly. PHOTO: NNI
It was thanks to the efforts of the former government (of Nawab Raisani) that the current government was able to present a Rs198 billion budget, Wasay said.
He said that Rs10 billion outstanding amount of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award was to be paid every year to Balochistan by the centre, but there was no mention of this amount in the budget.
He also rejected the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) proposals saying the development projects were not specified in the budget and added that no mention of the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan transmission line was made in the budget.
He said Rs30 billion were kept for block allocation which would go waste in corruption.
Wasay said the federation has scrapped subsidy on electricity. Farmers in Balochistan depend on electricity for running irrigation tube wells and ending subsidy will increase the power rates, farm input cost and the price of farm produce, he said. He urged the provincial government to take up the issue with the centre. Wasay boycotted the session.
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik said that he was ready to welcome positive criticism and asked the opposition leader to end his boycott.
Dr Malik said his government would take up proposals made by the opposition.
The chief minister presented a resolution for the expenditures of the government in various departments which was unanimously approved by the house.
MPAs welcome budget
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) leader Manzoor Kakar said an increase in educational budget from 2% to 23% is a testament to the budget being pro-education. He said that the focus on health and increase in the salaries of the government employees are also welcome moves.
The PML-Q leader Mir Abdul Kareem Nosherwani said Wasay’s comments were regrettable as the budget has sufficient allocation for education, health and agriculture.
PML-N leader Mir Abdul Majid Abro called for setting up a university and polytechnic college in Naseerabad division and allocating PSDP projects for his constituency.
The chief minister said he has sent secretary irrigation to Naseerabad and will get a report from him after the session.
National Party leader Rehmat Baloch, while condemning the attack on Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, said the lukewarm response from society was disheartening.
A single incident of Malala Yousafzai had created uproar in the entire country and the world, but the massacre of 13 innocent female students and four nurses had no impact, he said.
He said that those who enjoyed the treasury benches for 18 years were now raising hue and cry over the masses-friendly budget.
MPA Rahila Durrani welcoming the increase in the education budget suggested improving security of educational institutions following the attack of women students in Quetta. She also proposed setting up hospitals in all six divisions of Balochistan, provision of potable water and establishment of rescue centres at district levels.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2013.
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