KP PA approves demands for grant worth Rs9.81 bn

PESHAWAR/LAHORE: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday approved the demands for grant worth Rs9.81billion sought by four departments.

The assembly session chaired by Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani unanimously approved Rs386,905,000 demand for grant for the provincial assembly; Rs4,171,740,000 demand for grant for the general administration department; Rs4,529,784,000 demand for grant of the finance and local fund audit department and Rs726,204,000 demand for grant of the planning and development and statics department.

The session started about two hours and 12 minutes behind the schedule as Chief Minister Mahmood Khan along with ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Akbar Ayub, Shaukat Yousafzai and Fazle Shakoor visited the chamber of opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani to request the joint opposition for withdrawal of their cut motions to pass the budget.

Parliamentary leaders of the opposition parties were present in the meeting. Speaking on their cut motions, Akram Durrani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (MPLN) Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Ikhtiar Wali, Awami National Party (ANP)'s Khushdil Khan, Shagufta Malik, Nisar Mohmand and Pakistan People's Party (PPP)'s Nighat Orakzai criticized the departments for poor performance.

Sardar Yousaf said had the general administration department performed better the public would not have suffered. Rehana Ismail of JUI said government employees failed to get official residences until retirement.

Sobia Shahid of PML-N said for elected public representative rooms were not available in KP House Islamabad but for bureaucrats everything was available. Hassamuddin of JUI also termed the department's performance poor.

Shagufta Malik said government officers were enjoying luxury vehicles but public basic facilities were not available.

In his reply, Minister for Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Akbar Ayub Khan said the government had introduced a policy for allotment of official residences and even the chief minister cannot allow a house without merit.

He said the cabinet had decided that no misuse of vehicles would be allowed and those found guilty would be charged. The minister said within two months Fata House Islamabad would be available for parliamentarians and they would not face accommodation problems. On his cut motion over the Administration Department, Mian Nisar Gul of JUI demanded that royalty on the natural gas should be released to Karak besides increasing the amount.

Sobia Shahid complained that the finance minister did not consult any member in the budget making. While on his cut motion and demand for planning and development department, Akram Durrani accused the additional chief secretary of interference in funds allocation.

He said the budget had a deficit of Rs152 billion while the ADP allocations were Rs65 billion low compared to the previous budget. He said a committee consisting of members from both the treasury and opposition be constituted for distribution of uplift funds.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar called on Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in his Chamber here o Friday. Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Secretary Punjab Assembly Mohammad Bhatti and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Tahir Khurshid were also present during the meeting.

Earlier, the Punjab Assembly approved the budget 2021-22 and Finance Bill was passed. Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi said the House of the Assembly is the centre of hopes of the people, elected representatives can only be victorious before the people by focusing on the people’s problems, and was successful in running the House appreciably only with the cooperation of all MPAs.