A long distance relationship?: Report suggests province governed from Islamabad

K-P government has held a minimum of 59 meetings at the K-P House in Islamabad.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has held a minimum of 59 meetings at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad since it took over in May 2013, two of which directly involved the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson.

Following Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) lawmaker Bakht Baidar Khan’s query in the K-P Assembly, the administration department submitted documents that revealed the ‘nomadic’ standards of procedure of the provincial government.

The department noted all the meetings were organised in the interest of the province, in order to execute the ruling party’s agenda of reforms. At least 39 meetings were held in 2013 while 19 took place in the first three months of 2014, till March 31.

Baidar Khan told The Express Tribune such visits are a major financial burden on K-P’s treasury, questioning the rationale behind a provincial government holding meetings in Islamabad. He said the department has not disclosed details of expenditures and perks enjoyed by the chief minister and his cabinet in the course of the frequent travelling. Baidar Khan added he will resubmit the requisition to the assembly secretariat.

Communication breakdown

The chief minister, Pervez Khattak, held six meetings while CM’s Secretariat held four meetings. Three such assemblies were related to the chief secretary and four to K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser. Two of Imran Khan’s meetings were also included in the list as was an interview of a delegation from UAE with a local television channel, organised in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House.

A meeting was held by the industries minister, and two by senior minister for irrigation. At least 11 of the meetings were held by the planning and development department, four by the health department and three by the finance department.

The local government department has held two meetings and the elementary and secondary education department at least three. The environment, communication and works, establishment, home and tribal affairs, social welfare, industries, information and energy and power departments held one meeting each in Islamabad. As did the Civil Secretariat, FATA Secretariat, Provincial Housing Authority (PHA) and the Taliban committee. The administration department also listed a meeting of PTI’s parliamentarians.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2014.