Spending priorities: Graveyards’ funds diverted to Orange Line: Rasheed

PTI says it will hold a bigger rally if the govt does not restore allocations

LAHORE:

Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Mehmoodur Rasheed on Friday accused the provincial government of transferring to the Orange Line Metro Train Project funds originally allocated for establishment and renovation of graveyards in the city.

He was speaking at a sit-in staged by the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) on The Mall to protest the government’s preference for spending on infrastructure projects rather than on basic needs.

The protesters included PTI MPAs Murad Raas, Sadia Sohail and Shanila Ruth.

Rasheed warned the government that the party would hold a bigger demonstration if it failed to return the funds meant for use at graveyards. He said Rs1 billion allocated for graveyards had been transferred to the Orange Line project.

Earlier, he had submitted an adjournment motion on the issue in the assembly secretariat.

The protestors chanted slogans against the government and demanded that it ensure provision of basic needs. They said the government should prioritise spending on education and healthcare projects.

Rasheed said the government was squandering taxpayers’ money on unnecessary road projects. He said the money spent on these projects would end up in the pockets of a few contractors. Instead, he said the government should provide more funds for education and health departments.

Separately, the PTI submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly secretariat seeking establishment of emergency wards for cardiac care at all major public hospitals in the province.

It said these wards should be equipped with all facilities available at a ward at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology. It said the establishment of these wards would relieve the burden on the PIC emergency ward.

Another resolution submitted by the party demands widening of a bridge over River Ravi in the city. It says thousands of commuters use the bridge everyday to enter the city through Shahdra. Traffic at the bridge moves at a very slow pace and its widening will improve the flow of traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2015.