Minister rules out favours to LGs before elections

Our correspondent

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Finance, Excise and Taxation Zia Haider Rizvi has said local governments have released their due monthly share for payment of wages and day to day expenditures under Provincial Financial Award.

In a handout issued here on Monday, the minister said no one has been allocated any additional funds neither have crossed any limits to facilitate anyone unlawfully in this regard. Caretaker government does not believe in politics of prejudice neither has taken the government to meet any political agenda. We have been given mandate of fair and transparent elections, maintaining law and order and performing day to day affairs of the government, he added.

We hope that all the institutions including media will extend their full support to us playing their pivotal role as best stakeholders, he said. The minister said caretaker government had not any authority or additional funds to facilitate anyone. He said this gesture was completely wrong that caretaker government was favouring local governments before elections. He apprised the media that local governments including the union councils have their due share in Provincial Financial Award.

Local governments as well as provincial government are being released funds only for payment of wages and daily expenditures for which existing method and formula has been adopted.

Zia Haider Rizvi said members of the caretaker cabinet have committed many times on numerous occasions that their mandate is only to hold fair elections in peaceful atmosphere. He said the media is an important pillar of the state which helps to promote good governance. He said caretaker cabinet always welcome the media and it does not hide any facts from anyone.

He hoped that media will perform its professional responsibilities without paying any heed to any false propaganda or any disputable news. He said Caretaker Finance Ministry has informed the media about the facts earlier and will perform its duties in future as well.