For the sake of development: PPP chairperson announces Rs150b package for Karachi

Announcement in violation of code of conduct devised by election commission

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has announced a development package of Rs150 billion for Karachi, revealed Sindh local bodies minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, he said that all the projects in the package are scheduled to be completed in three years. Several monitoring committees will also be set up by the Sindh government to supervise and ensure transparency in the development work in all sectors. PPP Karachi division president Najmi Alam, Waqar Mehdi, Rashid Hussain Rabbani and Nadeem Bhutto were present on the occasion.

"The party has always owned the city. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto have also played their part in developing the city and Karachi is still our focus," said Shah. Karachi is Pakistan's backbone and the development of the city is important for the progress of the country, he added.

Read: Seeds of dissent: Bilawal to take up cudgels for farmers

Under the package, an amount of Rs13.7 billion has been allocated for 78 road schemes, Rs3.8 billion for bridges and flyover schemes, Rs45.4 billion for Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (K-IV and S-3 projects are not included in this project), Rs6.6 billion for 17 schemes of modern parks and horticulture, Rs820 million for Rescue 1922 and for the Karachi commissioner's three schemes, Rs18.9 billion for 11 schemes of fire and disaster management, Rs28.2 billion for 33 schemes of storm-water drains, Rs1.8 billion for plant and machinery, Rs4.6 billion for solid waste management schemes, Rs2 billion for other civic facilities, Rs12.1 billion for seven schemes of CDA and transport and Rs9 billion have been allocated for other schemes.

Against the code of conduct

Earlier this month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had taken notice of disbursement of funds for development schemes in Sindh ahead of local government elections, calling the move a violation of code of conduct.

In a statement released on September 4, the poll body said no development schemes can be announced by the provincial governments once the schedule for local government is announced.

The ECP took notice after media reports emerged claiming that the provincial government of Sindh was still dolling out development schemes, which could influence voters during the upcoming LG polls.

Under Section 26 of the ECP's code of conduct for political parties and candidates, the provincial governments are barred from announcing any new development schemes once the schedule for polls is announced. Similarly, they are not allowed to disburse public funds for development projects till the election process concludes.

When the provincial election commissioner, Tanvir Zaki, was contacted by The Express Tribune for his views on the alleged violation of the code of conduct, he said that the ECP will examine the nature of the development package and decide whether or not it was a violation of the rules.

*With additional input from a press release

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th,  2015.