PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finance minister Muzafar Said on Monday said pace of work on the ongoing development schemes in the province had slowed down due to shortage of funds.

Speaking on an identical point of order in the provincial assembly, the minister said the government was evolving a strategy to manage funds for the ongoing schemes.

He said the chief minister had discussed the issue with senior ministers, while he was also in contact with the federal authorities on it.

“Shortage of funds has adversely affected the speed of work on the ongoing schemes,” he said.


Minister tells PA that govt making strategy to manage money


The minister said there was no problem on the current budget side and that the issue would be resolved very soon.

Opposition MPAs Mehmood Khan Bhittani, Sardar Hussain Babak, Munawar Khan and Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha sought explanation from the government about suspension of work on the ongoing schemes across the province.

Mr. Bhittani said payments to contractors had been stopped due to unavailability of funds with the departments concerned, especially education and communication and works ones.

He said contractors had also complained about nonpayment of dues.

Sardar Babak while quoting media reports that the provincial government had planned to sell lands due to the prevailing financial crisis.

He said there were reports that the KP government had approached foreign lending agencies for loans to restart work on development schemes.

Mr. Babak sought explanation from the treasury on the matter.

He said media had also reported that the government was selling commercial properties. The opposition leader claimed the government was releasing funds for ongoing schemes in few selected districts.

Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha of the PML-N said instead of confrontation with the federal government, the KP government should adopt the policy of coordination for the sake of people of the province.

He said the people of the province had been suffering due to the PTI’s confrontational policy towards the centre.

Senior minister Inayatullah Khan while speaking on the point of order said delay in the transfer of funds from the centre had affected the ongoing schemes.

He said the provincial government had made projections in the annual budget on the basis of expectations of receipts of its share in financial resources from the federal government on time, but the latter did not make monetary releases on time and thus causing shortage of funds with the former.

The minister said the government would ‘do something’ to arrange Rs12 billion for the resumption of work on the ongoing schemes.

“I am sure this issue will be resolved within a week,” he said.

The minister denied that the KP government had approached the World Bank or any other donor to get loans to complete ongoing work on development schemes.

He said the WB didn’t provide loan for debt servicing.

The minister also clarified that the government had planned to give away only ‘unutilised lands’ on lease.

The house approved extension in the period of the Police Ordinance 2016 for another 90 days. The ordinance will expire on November 30.

Adviser to the chief minister Mushtaq Ghani tabled the resolution seeking extension in the ordinance’s period.

Chairing the sitting, Speaker Asad Qaiser said the police ordinance would be referred to the select committee of the house.

He said the committee’s formation would be notified very soon.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regularisation of Services of Teaching Assistant as Lecturer Bill 2016 was also tabled in the house.

The chair later adjourned the sitting until Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...