ISLAMABAD: The government has increased expenditure of the presidency to Rs801 million for the fiscal year 2015-16 despite the opposition having raised questions about increasing allocation for the ceremonial office.

According to the budget document, the allocation is 7.8 per cent higher than last year’s Rs743m.

The expenditures of both the presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office are increasing every year despite claims of austerity by the ruling PML-N.

This year’s allocation for the PM Office is also 8pc higher than last year.

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The opposition parties believe that the presidency has turned into a ceremonial office, especially after the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in which almost all powers of the president have been transferred to the prime minister. President Mamnoon Hussain has not confronted or opposed any decision of the government during the past two years.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan had said during his protests against alleged rigging in the 2013 elections that the government was wasting million of rupees on the presidency. He had vowed to turn the President House into a university after coming to power.

The allocation for the presidency under all heads have been increased, including grant subsidies and loan write-offs of Rs86m with a Rs3m increase, employees’ expenses raised to Rs53.5m from last year’s allocation of Rs49m, allowances Rs37m, operation expenses Rs124m from Rs116m, employees’ retirement benefits enhanced to Rs6m from Rs 4m and repair and maintenance Rs14m against last year’s Rs13m.

PM OFFICE: The expenditure of Prime Minister’s Office will go up to Rs842m against last year’s Rs779m.

The last year’s allocation was 3.26pc higher than the amount allocated in 2013-14 (Rs754m).

In 2010-11, the increase in the PM Office’s expenditure was 8.25pc, while inflation was 13.7pc.

In 2011-12 and 2012-13, the government increased the budget of the PM Office at the whopping rates of 56 and 58pc.

Published in Dawn June 6th, 2015

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