On governance: ‘Public money is being spent irrationally’

Govt has failed to provide people relief, says Ejaz Chaudhry.

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Ejaz Chaudhry said on Monday the country’s economy was struggling but the government had spent millions of rupees on purchasing vehicles for ministers and secretaries.

“The government has purchased three dozen vehicles for Rs205 million in violation of rules,” Chauhdry, a political adviser PTI chairman Imran Khan, said in a statement. He said the government had failed to provide relief to the common man.

He accused government of stealing people’s mandate. He criticised the government for announcing various taxes in the budget. He said raising minimum wage from Rs12,000 to Rs13,000 was not enough. “Can they [government leaders] make both ends meet with a monthly income of Rs13,000?”

PTI leader Yasmin Rashid accused rulers of living luxurious lives at the expense of the nation. She said 60 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line. She said government’s policies had added to the woes of the people.

PTI leader Andleeb Abbas said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s statement regarding slashing expenditures of Prime Minister’s House should not be taken seriously.

“The PM’s House spending has increased by more than 100 per cent over the last two years,” she said. According to budget documents, she said, more than Rs9 million a day was spent on the maintenance of the presidency and the Prime Minister’s House.

“Such expenses are uncalled for while the government is faced with a huge fiscal deficit,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2015.