MQM presents shadow budget worth Rs668b

For development, largest chunk allocated to health, followed by education and agriculture.

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentarians, while presenting the shadow budget for the fiscal year 2015-2016, demanded that the government reduce its non-development expenditures.

The shadow budget, worth Rs668 billion, was presented by the MQM's parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, Syed Sardar Ahmed, in the opposition lobby on Saturday. "The government should cut down its unimportant expenses and pay heed to developmental projects in the province." said Ahmed, while addressing his party's parliamentarians.

The MQM leader called for immediate local government elections, adding that funds to facilitate the election commission should be allocated in the upcoming provincial budget.

In its shadow budget, the party has proposed no new taxes. On the development side, the highest amount is allocated to the health sector at Rs35 billion, followed by education at Rs23 billion and agriculture at Rs23 billion.

The assembly's opposition leader and MQM's parliamentarian, Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that the Sindh government had failed to implement last year's project proposals. "The Sindh government's allocation of Rs2.5 billion in the last budget for developing Karachi worth was all lies."

Water

The party has proposed the immediate realisation of the K-IV project. It has also proposed to allocate Rs10 billion to revamp the infrastructure of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). The shadow budget calls for the immediate setting up of the 65 MGD and 100 MGD approved schemes as well as the allocation of Rs500 million to every district for the rehabilitation of drinking water infrastructure.

Education

Sindh's performance in the education sector continues to be poor and the province stands at the fourth position in Pakistan, even after spending Rs149 billion, the budget report states. The MQM has suggested improving all basic educational facilities and increasing development share from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

Law and order

The MQM has called for funds to be allocated to provide a comprehensive training, life, and health insurance plan for the police. It has also suggested local policing on the district level and strengthening of the institution of SHO.

Health

Regarding the health policy, the party has called to establish DNA and forensic labs in the province. Emergency centres should be established on the highway, and the services of existing hospitals be made better.

Sports and youth affairs

Policy recommendations in the shadow budget call for an increase in vocational training centres to accommodate thousands of matriculates who seek admission. The party has proposed that youth development centres be established in every district.

Transport

The MQM, in its shadow budget, has called to revive the green bus service with an additional 500 buses.

Bus terminals must be established and the transport fare be strictly regulated by the government. The shadow budget proposes that transporters be brought within the ambit of income tax.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2015.