Balochistan: Ministers consume budget in six months

Departments now demanding more funds from the provincial finance ministry.

QUETTA: Provincial ministers have exhausted their annual budget of travelling and dearness allowance of Rs15 million in the first six months of the fiscal year.

Now departments concerned are demanding more funds from the provincial finance department for the rest of the fiscal year, ending in June 2011.

An overwhelming majority of ministers are on official tours round the year, misusing funds from the public exchequer and sometimes taking more than double their salary.

Interestingly, no minister has ever submitted a report to the chief minister suggesting some improvement or changes in policy to any sector or for any region they visited, official sources said.

Ministers are provided accommodation, personal staff, telephone, a fleet of cars and domestic helpers. They often get involved with official matters and dictate heads of departments.

Balochistan has the unenviable distinction of having the biggest cabinet of its history made up of 55 ministers and advisers – drawn from a provincial assembly of 64 members.

There are also ministers who have not been given portfolios since the government was formed, but have been provided perks and privileges equal to that of ministers.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2010.