Human Rights Directorate wronged by government
Officials say only Rs10,000 available for seminars, campaigns every year
Federal govt has yet to give K-P a total of Rs.6 billion as its share under the NFC award.
PESHAWAR:
When the rights of the Human Rights Directorate itself are violated, it appears the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa stand little chance of defending their civil liberties.
The authority has a scarcely believable Rs10,000 to spend every year on seminars and awareness campaigns. Insiders allege the finance department creates hurdles in releasing funds for HRD.
Officials at the directorate reveal that only a handful of people are even conscious of its existence and that’s the reason there is little knowledge of the body’s role.
They say most complaints are forwarded to it by other government departments as very few people lodge their complaints. “We receive majority of the complaints from the Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell as there is no advertising to promote the directorate,” an HRD official says.
The official explains the total budget allocated for the directorate is Rs1.57 million annually of which Rs1.24million goes into salaries and just Rs0.33million is left for operational expenses.
“The directorate has been allocated Rs10,000 annually for campaigns and seminars,” the official complains. He adds that other departments, including the Right To Information Commission, have been put on the map thanks to sessions and seminars.
“If you do not advertise your product, how will you attract people?” the official asked. He said the government must look into the matter since the HRD is supposed to deal with a major portion of the general public. Another official says the directorate does not even have money to buy stationery and pay for transportation expenses. “Officially, you have to change tyres of vehicles after every 50,000 miles covered, but our cars run for 80,000 miles before getting fresh rubber.
When you bring in a guest, you offer tea at least. It is so embarrassing when something so basic is unavailable at the office,” the official concludes. When contacted, HRD Director Noor Zaman Khattak says the finance department treats money meant for the directorate as if it belongs to the latter and is not for spending on the public.
“It [finance department] is violating basic rules and expects us to protect the general public’s rights,” Khattak says. He adds their telephones have been dead due to non-payment of bills and the department concerned has been informed about this on several occasions. However, he adds that it seems least bothered.
When contacted, K-P Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said tells The Express Tribune that the issue has not been brought to his attention. He asks HRD officials to see him so that all issues are resolved at the earliest. “I would suggest the matter be discussed directly with me so that officials concerned are questioned,” the minister said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2015.
When the rights of the Human Rights Directorate itself are violated, it appears the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa stand little chance of defending their civil liberties.
The authority has a scarcely believable Rs10,000 to spend every year on seminars and awareness campaigns. Insiders allege the finance department creates hurdles in releasing funds for HRD.
Officials at the directorate reveal that only a handful of people are even conscious of its existence and that’s the reason there is little knowledge of the body’s role.
They say most complaints are forwarded to it by other government departments as very few people lodge their complaints. “We receive majority of the complaints from the Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell as there is no advertising to promote the directorate,” an HRD official says.
The official explains the total budget allocated for the directorate is Rs1.57 million annually of which Rs1.24million goes into salaries and just Rs0.33million is left for operational expenses.
“The directorate has been allocated Rs10,000 annually for campaigns and seminars,” the official complains. He adds that other departments, including the Right To Information Commission, have been put on the map thanks to sessions and seminars.
“If you do not advertise your product, how will you attract people?” the official asked. He said the government must look into the matter since the HRD is supposed to deal with a major portion of the general public. Another official says the directorate does not even have money to buy stationery and pay for transportation expenses. “Officially, you have to change tyres of vehicles after every 50,000 miles covered, but our cars run for 80,000 miles before getting fresh rubber.
When you bring in a guest, you offer tea at least. It is so embarrassing when something so basic is unavailable at the office,” the official concludes. When contacted, HRD Director Noor Zaman Khattak says the finance department treats money meant for the directorate as if it belongs to the latter and is not for spending on the public.
“It [finance department] is violating basic rules and expects us to protect the general public’s rights,” Khattak says. He adds their telephones have been dead due to non-payment of bills and the department concerned has been informed about this on several occasions. However, he adds that it seems least bothered.
When contacted, K-P Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said tells The Express Tribune that the issue has not been brought to his attention. He asks HRD officials to see him so that all issues are resolved at the earliest. “I would suggest the matter be discussed directly with me so that officials concerned are questioned,” the minister said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2015.