Balochistan Assembly: MPAs approve budget

Opposition decries insufficient funds for development, promises constructive role.

QUETTA:

The Balochistan Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved the Rs 167 billion budget for the next fiscal year.

The budget sailed through the provincial assembly without difficulties, as opposition members refrained from floating any cut-motions.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch presented a total of 51 demands for grants -- which the house later approved.

A sum of Rs 1.43 billion was earmarked as development expenditure while non-development expenditure was budgeted at more than Rs 117 billion.

Under the head of general administration Rs 12.47 billion were approved by the house while another Rs 420 million were approved under excise. Similarly, allocations for pension Rs 8.50 billion, for administration of justice Rs 1.5 billion, for prosecution more than Rs 150 million, for Balochistan police Rs 7.17 billion, for Balochistan Constabulary Rs 2.34 billion and for Levies forces Rs 4.24 billion have been approved.

Speaking to reporters after the session, Leader of Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Maulana Abdul Wasay of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said the opposition wanted to play a constructive role and would not create unnecessary hurdles for the government.

He added that the government presented its financial demands and that these had been subsequently approved.

Maulana Wasay noted that while the opposition had expressed its reservations on the first day the budget was presented, the government had assured the house that these concerns would be addressed.

The JUI-F leader said that during a meeting with the government committee, the opposition had pointed to loopholes in the budget and cautioned the panel that allocations made for various schemes in the province could prove to be insufficient.

The opposition leader added that his party would press the government to take measures to ensure budget transparency, and if it fails to fulfil its full purpose, they would raise their voice against it on the floor of the house.

“We will raise our voice wherever and whenever we spot mismanagement,” he added.

Responding to a question, Maulana Wasay said that the chief minister had utilised the secret funds available to him, adding that withdrawing money was a legal act and the right of the provincial executive. “If we have some evidence against the misappropriation of funds, we will present it before the government,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2013.