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| June 26, 2006 | Monday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1427 |
Qesco not to be allowed to shut power houses
QUETTA, June 25: Balochistan Finance Minister Ehsan Shah on Sunday assured the house that “positive suggestions” of opposition members would be accommodated in the budget, including their proposal regarding increase in tax on marble.
Winding up debate on the provincial budget for fiscal year 2006-07, he said Qesco would not be allowed to shut 15 small power houses in different areas on June 30. He said the chief minister would discuss the issue with officials concerned on July 4.
About Wapda’s decision to withdraw subsidy on electricity to farmers for use of tube-wells, he said the issue pertained to federal and provincial governments and Wapda, therefore no one could take any unilateral decision. The chief minister would discuss the matter with Wapda officials, he added.
The minister said the Rs2.5 billion subsidy on wheat would now be given on flour in view of complaints that people did not benefit from subsidy on wheat.
He said funds for women legislators would be increased and regular salary would be paid to Imams of mosques in government departments.
Mr Shah said that by curtailing non-development expenditures, the government had saved Rs4 billion, adding that overdraft had been taken from the State Bank and loans from the federal government to continue ongoing development projects.
He said allocations for health, education, agriculture and communications sectors had been increased. However, he said, keeping in view recommendations of members, the funds for the education sector would be reviewed.
About opposition members’ reservations over merging the levies department with the police department, the minister said a final decision in this regard would be taken in two months. MMA leaders had also taken up the issue with the federal government, he said.
He expressed displeasure over the federal government decision to appoint doctors and other staff of the Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Quetta, from outside the province. “If only technical staff was brought from outside than we will have no objection, said the minister, adding that the issue would be raised with the federal government.
Mr Shah agreed with the opposition leader in the assembly that the centre should appoint a representative of the provincial government in institutions which collected revenue on resources of Balochistan.
He justified establishment of checkposts along the borders with Afghanistan and Iran, adding that though the customs department would collect duty on items, the local population would benefit from economic activities in those areas.
Opposition leader Kachkol Ali held the army responsible for economic and constitutional crises in the country.
He observed that in a federation, the powers rested with federating units and parliament but due to interference of the army, the parliamentary system had been changed into a unitary form of government and the centre enjoyed all powers.
Lashing out at the ruling Pakistan Muslim League leadership, he alleged that it was the general’s party which endorsed undemocratic and unconstitutional steps of the dictator, weakening the political system in the country.
He said the Council of Common Interests, National Finance Commission and the National Economic Council were not functioning according to requirements of the constitution and all decisions were being imposed by the powers.
The opposition leader claimed that President Gen Pervez Musharraf had linked finalisation of the NFC award with construction of the Kalabagh dam.
He alleged that resources of Balochistan were being usurped through use of force, adding that innocent people had been killed in the military operation in Dera Bugti and Kohlu.
He said the province was rich in resources and the centre annually received billions of rupees as revenue from Sui gas fields and Saindak copper projects. However, he regretted, the provincial government had to prepare a deficit budget.
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