Funds earmarked for Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway inadequate, says Sharjeel

Senior Sindh minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday said the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway is a very important project, adding that it is not just a project of the province but of the entire Pakistan.

Memon said import and export of the whole country is done through the Karachi port, and there is no other way. The Sindh chief minister recently issued many reminders, and wrote letters about this, he added.

He said federal ministers recently came to assure that they are allocating funds for this project. The motorway is to be built by the federal government, not the provincial government, he added.

“We were told that this road will be started soon and completed soon, but with the amount allocated, this project can neither be started soon nor completed on time.” He also said that only “token money” has been earmarked for the motorway. Symbolic amounts are not allocated for important projects of this nature, but they are provided with full funding, he added.

Memon said that this project would take two to three years, so at least 30 to 40 per cent of the budget should have been allocated, as is done with other important projects. By allocating only Rs15 billion, this important project has neither been done justice nor has the interest of the country been taken into account, he added.

“We have serious reservations not only about this project but also about the K-IV project. The amount that has been allocated for these projects is very inadequate. The Pakistan Peoples Party [PPP] is taking these matters seriously, and will review the budget in detail.”

He said the PPP had formally submitted proposals to the prime minister. He requested the federal government to reduce their unnecessary expenses. “When you reduce your expenses, saving is possible. If your income isn’t increasing, it’s necessary to control the expenditure.”

He pointed out that the budget targets the Centre had set last time also could not be achieved, as the Federal Board of Revenue failed to achieve these targets. He also said if the Centre’s revenue targets are not being met, they should also consider the fiscal deficit of the provinces. “You have to manage all the expenditures in a smart way.” If the expenditure is not limited, and it continues to increase, the financial system will come under pressure, and the fiscal policy will not be sustainable, he concluded.