Expenditure patterns: Govt allocates development funds worth Rs8.5b to MPAs

Mushtaq Ghani says all funds have been issued on need basis

PESHAWAR:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government allocated development funds worth Rs8.5 billion to MPAs in the province on the directives of the chief minister.

This was stated in a press release issued by Centre for Governance and Public Accountability on Wednesday. The details were obtained by CGPA under the K-P Right to Information Act 2013.

“CGPA has analysed expenditures under four Annual Development Programme (ADP) heads in 2014-15,” read the statement. “These include special packages, district development initiatives, devolved ADP and priority projects from the regional development sector in fiscal year 2014-15.” A significant portion of the Rs8.5 billion went to constituencies of treasury bench MPAs or cabinet members.

However, K-P Government Spokesperson and Special Assistant to the CM Mushtaq Ghani insisted all funds were issued on a needs basis. He said, “Larger cities and districts have more problems and therefore receive more funds.”

According to Ghani, funds are issued in accordance with development schemes submitted by the districts. “They are not issued to MPAs but to these schemes,” he insisted.

“The government focused on districts which have received less funds last year and will balance it with other districts next year.”

Ghani denied opposition MPAs had been ignored. “They should point out development schemes if not the funds required,” he added.

Fund allocations

According to CGPA’s analysis of the data, PTI’s Muhammad Atif from Mardan received Rs343 million – the highest allocation. This was followed by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak who obtained Rs251 million of the development funds, and then PTI’s Khaliqur Rehman who received Rs198 million.

“Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman and Minister for Revenue Ali Amin Gandapur received Rs190 million each.”

On the other hand, 22 women MPAs were allocated a sum of Rs55 million. As per the press release, QWP MPA Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli received Rs20 million followed by PPP lawmaker Nighat Orakzai who was allocated Rs15 million. QWP MPA Meraj Humayun and Adviser to Chief Minister on Social Welfare Mehar Taj Roghani received Rs10 million each.

PTI MPA Soran Singh obtained Rs50 million, JUI-F lawmaker Askar Pervez and PML-N MPA Fredrick Azeem received Rs10 million each.



“On average, AJIP MPAs received the highest allocation of Rs98.2 million,” stated the press release. “This was followed by PTI which received Rs82.3 million and JI which obtained Rs79 million. ANP received the lowest allocation on average with Rs20 million.”

District-wise

As per the press statement, Peshawar received Rs1.19 billion – the lion’s share of the funds under the four development budget heads.

“At least Rs1.04 billion were allocated to Nowshera, Rs998 million to Mardan, Rs843 million to Swabi, Rs228 million to Kohat, Rs112 million to Hangu and Rs177 million to Bannu,” stated the press release. “Similarly, the deprived Torghar got Rs32 million, Battagram received Rs63 million and Chitral Rs88 million.”

Cycle of reservations

CGPA has termed allocations to MPAs a violation of the promises made under PTI’s manifesto for the 2013 general elections. The government appears to have gone back on its promises to eliminate discretionary funds and restrict development funds for parliamentarians, said the handout.

CGPA Executive Director Muhammad Anwar said the allocation of development funds to MPAs violates the development policy framework devised for the province. “Integrated Development Strategy (IDS) 2014-18 is the latest policy framework in this regard,” the statement quoted him as saying. “However, Anwar said the IDS does not mention the allocation of funds based on political affiliations of MPAs. The allocation of funds diverts the attention of MPAs legislative and executive oversight as they vie to get more funds.”

Reactions

Speaking to The Express Tribune, ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak said the government does not consider the opposition to be representatives of the people.”

He defended the previous ANP government’s decision, saying it had issued funds to all districts in separate sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2015.