KARACHI: NFC Award awaited on multiple grounds: Pre-budget seminar
KARACHI, May 4: Opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Friday said resource allocation by federal government remained major problem for Sindh to sustain its economy.
Speaking at a seminar on ‘Pakistan’s economy and its impact on Sindh’ organised at Sindh Assembly Building, he said lopsided distribution of funds between defence sector and social services sectors was a matter of deep concern. The pre-budget seminar was aimed at examining economic situation and providing suggestions for budget allocations.
Nisar Khuhro said NFC Award, which was due in the year 2002, was still awaited on multiple grounds. He underlined the need of giving focus to housing industry too to cater the needs of the growing population. He noted coal deposits of the province need to be developed to meet power demand of the province in particular and of the country in general. He said the priorities should not be changed with the change of government.
Abdul Karim Lodhi, former chief secretary and economic expert, said when provincial government demolished a hospital to build a shopping mall how could it set priority for development of the province. Around 7,110 schools, including primary and secondary schools, are lying closed only in Sindh showing apathy of the government, he added.
Abbas Hussain Rizvi, educationist and founder of the Society for English Language Teachers, deplored those who knew what to do for the betterment of people but did not care. He said although allocation for education in budget had improved it was lack of vision for proper utilization of funds which caused problems.
He stressed the need for uniform syllabus having diversity only with variation of class level in all schools. He said the syllabus should not perpetuate discrimination among students.
Prof Huma Baqai of Karachi University’s International Relation Department said a country with US$15 billion deficit in its trade volume could not make an independent foreign policy. She said Pakistan could use its China card to ease pressure being exerted by the US.
Asadullah Aga, a medical expert, said life expectancy was linked with good health and economy and quoted example of Japan where life expectancy was nearly 81 years. He asked for launching a programme for provision of potable water and sewerage system as 67 per cent people had no access to such facilities.
The medical expert demanded recruitment of doctors and paramedical staff on permanent basis with better package to allure them to serve the humanity with devotion. He stressed the need for giving autonomy to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
Giving an overview of agriculture sector, Muhammad Nawaz Shah, General Secretary of Sindh Abadgar Board, said despite the fact that Rs11billion was earmarked to upgrade irrigation infrastructure, 70 per cent channels in the province did not get water at present.
Among others, the seminar was attended by PML-N leaders Saleem Zia and Sardar Abdul Rahim, Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Dr Mairajul Huda, PPP leaders Rashid Rabbani, Taj Haider, MMA leader Maulana Umer Sadiq.—PPI
