PESHAWAR: The performance of provincial government was confined to papers only as it fudged figures in the budget document to deceive people, alleged Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) leader Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao here on Tuesday.

Talking to a delegation of party workers, he said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government failed on all fronts as it lacked planning and vision to put the province on the path to progress.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lagged behind in all fields owing to injudicious use of funds, Mr Sherpao said. He added that performance of provincial government was confined to papers only as rulers fudged figures in the budget document to deceive people.

About the provincial government’s claims regarding securing funds from the federal government, Mr Sherpao said that Rs1 billion that was paid to the provincial government was the interest on the unutilised amount of the previous budget.

Sikandar Sherpao says PTI-led govt lacks planning and vision

The QWP leader said that provincial government was unable to use a big chunk of funds allocated in the Annual Development Programme for the year 2013-14 as it invested a large portion of the budget funds with the federal government.

He said that provincial government failed to secure the arrears of the net hydel profits from the federal government. “The provincial government has not taken up this issue with the federal government seriously,” he said.

Mr Sherpao said that no change could be brought in any sector as the rulers failed to honour the election pledges. “The slogan of change was a ploy to reach the corridors of power,” he added.The QWP leader said that provincial government couldn’t get the schools rebuilt that were bombed by militants. “Where is the education emergency,” he questioned, referring to the claim of PTI rulers, who had pledged to revamp the education system.

Mr Sherpao said that the federal government and the army had taken control of the hospitals to provide treatment facilities to the internally displaced persons from North Waziristan that showed that provincial government didn’t have the capacity to cope with the situation.

The QWP leader said that Right to Information Act had not been extended to the entire Malakand division and the people couldn’t access government information. “What is the use of the legislation that cannot be implemented,” he questioned.

He said that interference of provincial government in the affairs of the government departments belied its election pledges. He said that provincial government had no plan to revive the fragile economy of the province and create job opportunities for the unemployed youth.

“The PTI rulers have been in power for over a year, but they have been unable to launch any mega uplift scheme,” Mr Sherpao said.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014