January 9, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 24, 1422

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QUETTA, Jan 8: The federal government has granted Rs1.33 billion for the drought affected areas and for implementing the schemes pertaining to the Khushal Pakistan Programme in Balochistan.

The provincial government received the amount a few days back improving its financial standing after slashing of around Rs3.5bn receipts from the natural gas revenue.

The funds were in fact allocated for the Social Action Programme and the National Drainage Programme. The SAP projects were kept on sideline following massive financial scandals and huge pilferage of funds by all concerned, from bureaucrats to political bosses in the past. Balochistan expressed its inability to use the funds under the National Drainage Programme taking the stand that it was not on the priority programmes of Balochistan.

Those funds were lapsable and the provincial governments were required to use the same within the stipulated period of six months. “It was not possible for us to oblige the central government,” a senior public servant told this scribe.

Balochistan opted to seek the funds under Khushal Pakistan Programme and rehabilitation of drought in this province.

For the first time in many years the Balochistan government was prompt enough in fulfilling all the necessary requirements for seeking a soft loan for the drought-affected regions. It took a lead from other provinces by submitting its demand in time and thus got the soft loan with nominal interest rate for a longer term.

On this head, Balochistan reportedly got Rs540 million. The fund will be spent on five important sectors — irrigation, agriculture, livestock, building link or approach roads and drinking water supply schemes to the drought affected regions of Balochistan.

The provincial government is expected to receive Rs460m of the second instalment in near future implementing the rehabilitation of the drought-affected people and regions.