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ISLAMABAD: Brandishing a cheque for Rs200 million, it seemed like the entire Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources had turned out at the PM’s Office on Friday for a chance to get their picture taken with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Federal Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi handed the PM a cheque – a donation to the PM’s fund for those displaced by the operation in North Waziristan – and everyone posed for a group photograph. Right afterwards, the PM’s Office issued an official statement and released the photograph, with smiles all round.
Also in the photo are Junior Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Secretary Abid Saeed and Special Adviser Zahid Muzaffar, as well as an unnamed ministry official from Lahore.
When asked where this king’s ransom came from, an official from the ministry’s media wing promised to get back to Dawn with a response, but later expressed his inability to obtain the required information.
Petroleum Secretary Abid Saeed was also not available for comment. But a recently retired federal secretary, who has served in several key positions, told Dawn the Petroleum Ministry was a rich division with scores of attached departments. “Putting together a Rs200 million donation isn’t a big deal for them.”
This seems to be a simple case of state monies being transferred from one account to another.
Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2014
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Comments (38) Closed
Jul 19, 2014 09:33am
Mr. PM will the cheque reach IDPs? If yes, when?
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Jul 19, 2014 10:02am
why picture? In Islam, charity should be given in a manner that your other hand is not aware of it? why making advertisement of the little good you are doing. Is Petrolium department and these people in the pictures paying taxes?
200 million rupees distributed equally among 1 million people of wazirastan, everyone is getting 200 rupees. enough to survive for one day.
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Jul 19, 2014 10:34am
PMLN is all about photo opportunity and publicity. They even do it on fails, the Guinness Book records drama, the Nandi Poor project that is not even ready, the newly leased PIA plane which is yet to be used and a number of failed projects with massive waste of public money.
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Jul 19, 2014 11:08am
@daniel shiger
It's also a great way to motivate others . If the intention is correct , Islam does not stop it . Don't present wrong picture of the religion
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Jul 19, 2014 12:48pm
Really an objective reporting identifying the maneouring at the highest level. God knows where these funds go. Previous experience of Qarz Utaro Mulk Sanwaro in last PML (N) govt speaks' itself
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Jul 19, 2014 12:49pm
You can not believe that this is third time PM of Pakistan. You have not learned anything from past.
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Jul 19, 2014 01:37pm
Religion has nothing to do with it don't bring relegion here please . This is all political bribes and to make PM HAPPY . However hope money reach the right place .
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Jul 19, 2014 02:19pm
Knowing our "extraordinary " PM ( yes pun intended) he will probably use it to announce a metro bus from Mir ali to miransha rather then giving basic aid to the idps
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Jul 19, 2014 03:06pm
Yes please tell us where this money came from???
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Jul 19, 2014 04:03pm
I just don't understand why every Pakistani is in a negative state of mind . If some thing good is happening let it happen.
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Jul 19, 2014 04:50pm
Motivation for other,keep it up!
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Jul 19, 2014 05:43pm
@Syed Raza Abbas Shah Mr Shah It might seem good but EVERY Pakistani knows that all that glitters is not gold!
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Jul 19, 2014 05:53pm
Wow! I thought the employees of the ministry donated this money. That is a cheap shot.
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Jul 19, 2014 05:55pm
@daniel shiger, It is not charity just money from the budgeted sources of the ministry.
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Jul 19, 2014 06:18pm
i thought this amount was raised from the employees wages of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources
do you think that they heart is so big that they can contribute to the IDP.
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Jul 19, 2014 08:31pm
Whose money was 200 million. If it was Mr Khaqans money the FBR should chase him for income tax and Election Commission. If it was public money then he should be ashamed to publicize and cheap popularity
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Jul 19, 2014 09:05pm
Pathetic!!! These people are smiling with pride after taking out public money and 'donating' for their personal glory.
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Jul 19, 2014 09:05pm
Khaqani , NS and his cronies should also pitch in . I haven't heard the Shareefs giving anything towards these causes.
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Jul 19, 2014 10:03pm
@Syed Raza Abbas Shah. Because of their past experience. no Pakistani can either trust their Govt or other people. It is sad but it is a fact. Yet they would still elect the same people over and over again and then sit and cry for the next five years.
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Jul 19, 2014 11:08pm
Just because the PM wears a shalwar kurta and waistcoat, every single buffoon in the picture is wearing one. Just goes to show how ingrained our culture of subservience has spread. These sycophants 'coincidentally' decided to wear the royal apparel.
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Jul 19, 2014 11:11pm
Stop fooling the nation. This is "dhokha baazi".
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Jul 20, 2014 12:08am
Its like the money is coming out of their own pockets.
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Jul 20, 2014 12:28am
Makes one wonder what else is easily transferred without any over sight!
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Jul 20, 2014 12:31am
@Shahid
He may or may not have learned anything,what about public who puts him office time after time.
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Jul 20, 2014 12:32am
@Syed Raza Abbas Shah
Do a good deed from own pocket,not siphon out money from allocated funds to appease your boss!
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Jul 20, 2014 12:33am
What a highly eccentric and self-centered joke of the day?
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Jul 20, 2014 12:34am
@khan
I can trust Edhi and Imran Khan for their charitable work.That s where my Zakat goes.The rest are checkered and some are just shady!(Meera)
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Jul 20, 2014 12:34am
The question we should ask is:
How much money has been contributed by our leaders from their personal coffers? How much the PM, his Ittefaq group and other business ventures of Sharif Family have contributed to the funds meant for IDP's? How much Zardari and others have donated? I think, Bahria Town's founder Malik Riaz is the only exception. But then he is only a businessman and neither a politician nor a memeber of the elite club of our Parliamentarians.
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Jul 20, 2014 05:57am
is this your father money - taking picture - give your own wealth as well
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Jul 20, 2014 06:19am
Governments money going to the people. Nothing of their efforts.
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Jul 20, 2014 06:21am
@Amanullah Khan - Question should be asked, why is a situation created for such donations?
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Jul 20, 2014 08:26am
@Aziz
Nation is the biggest fool.Time after time electing people and not holding them accountable.
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Jul 20, 2014 09:53am
@Syed Raza Abbas Shah you must be an expatriate.
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Jul 20, 2014 11:45am
@Kamil
Religion has to do with everything, Islam is a complete code of life.
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Jul 20, 2014 01:01pm
Please get serious with the job, these type of activity won't help th PML-N government. People are fed of photo sessions.
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Jul 20, 2014 01:05pm
What percentage of the income of each one of them?
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Jul 20, 2014 01:46pm
Will we ever take anything as a good gesture, i guess we have adopted a nature to just criticize. Let me clear few things friends, there is no or any intention to do photo shoots.... This cheq could have been given silently too, but who would know how much and who gave... At least now you know how much it was and by whom, so that it can be accountable.
If people wear suites, then we complain, if we wear shalvaar kameez, then its objectionable... That day was a Friday and its very common most of govt n rest organizations wear shalvaar kameez for namaz... And why its sad to see our national dress worn by all.... Infact some body should have have appreciated that good all wearing pakistani dress....No body knows what the PM wears, everybody choses his own dressings... And there is no intention of impressing or showing off.... The ministry on behalf of its organization contributed to a genuine and national cause and it should be appreciated... I was not expecting dawn to write such a statement.... And its very unfortunate that its written that one man is from lahore among group where as no body there was.... It was ministry and PM and PM staff... Lets acknowledge good too and not be critisizing all the time.
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Jul 21, 2014 06:34pm
What a corrupt people
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