Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah addressing Provincial Assembly.
PHOTO NNI
“The Thar coal project has not been completed due to lack of funds and technical issues,” pointed out Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah. The finance minister demanded the federal government to hand over the Lakhra coal project to the Sindh government. He said the provincial government plans to generate 300 megawatts of electricity from the project.
Shah also informed the House that no one is ready to invest in Keti Bunder except China. “Sindh government also wants to set up a power project there,” he added.
According to him, all the power generated in Sindh is supplied first to the national grid and then distributed across the country. The Sindh government gave land for the Jhampir wind power plant but the project is under the federal government’s jurisdiction, he added.
Shah also told the House that the provincial government is establishing hydropower projects at Rohri and Nara canals. “We’ll set up four hydel power projects in Sindh with the help of China,” he said. He also announced that K-Electric will be receiving an additional 100MW from the Nooriabad power project.
‘Unfair’ treatment
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) shared its grievances that their voters are being ignored. “We are not being given our due share in development schemes,” claimed MQM’s Muhammad Hussain Khan.
Presenting documents as proof to other lawmakers, Khan said that most development schemes have been allocated to people who are not even members of the assembly. “Who is Syed Najmi Alam? Who is Raja Aftab? Why is Qadir Patel getting schemes when he is not the member of any assembly,” he asked the treasury benches.
However, the finance minister completely rejected these accusations. “Can you show these names on the Annual Development Project Volume-V?” he asked. “It is not right to raise names of those who aren’t part of this house.”
Khan pointed out, however, that there are a number of schemes in Karachi, including a 100-bed hospital on Nipa Chowrangi, which have been pending for several years. Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Imtiaz Shaikh agreed that the same situation is seen in the rest of the province.
Shah responded that they have released Rs10 billion for Karachi’s schemes. “Karachi is my city. It is the provincial capital and we can’t ignore this city,” he added.
The MQM lawmakers still felt neglected. “Can’t you understand why we separated from the provincial government?” asked MQM’s Khawaja Izharul Haq. “Our issues are not given importance. We have submitted all our schemes and hope that merit will be given weight.” Otherwise, he added, that they will believe the government’s policies are anti-Karachi.
Tharparkar issue
The opposition leader, Shaharyar Mahar, highlighted the drought in Tharparkar district as he felt it was not being taken seriously. “A new issue has been highlighted by the media that wheat is being distributed on political grounds,” he said.
Health minister Jam Mehtab Dahar responded, however, that it was the first time that all CNIC holders are being given wheat free of charge. “We have provided better health facilities in Tharparkar,” the minister informed, adding that the OPD numbers have gone up to 2,000 patients every day at Civil Hospital, Mithi. “Doctors are being given special packages,” he said, adding that 23 jeeps have also been provided to give access to far flung areas.
Anjali case
The lawmakers also appreciated the decision of the Sindh High Court in the case of ‘forced conversion’ of a Hindi girl, Anjali. It is the first time that the law, Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013, has been implemented in letter and spirit. “It is the victory of this House,” claimed deputy speaker Shehla Raza.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.
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