MULTAN: During the parliamentary meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Punjab, with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on Sunday, an MNA from Multan complained about unfair distribution of funds in the district.

MNA Ahmed Hassan Dehar spoke against the local district administration for only following a federal minister’s orders and allocating funds for minister’s and his son’s constituencies. Sources close to him said Mr Dehar reminded the prime minister he had defeated a former prime minister’s son and a former federal minister but the local administration was least bothered to his issues.

After his outburst, a meeting of PTI parliamentarians from Multan district was held in Lahore with Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday.

According to close circles of MNA Dehar, Mr Buzdar called the meeting of the parliamentarians of Multan district and Commissioner Shanul Haq and Deputy Commissioner Aamer Khattak were also present. Sources said that Mr Dehar who once arrived in Multan after attending the PTI Punjab parliamentary meeting with the prime minister on Sunday, again went to Lahore to meet the chief minister. They said that the chief minister directed DC Khattak to explain that why most of the funds from local government were given to two particular constituencies despite the clear-cut direction that the funds be distributed equally.

According to an official handout, the chief minister approved a development package of billions for Multan, saying that Multan was his second home and he was the representative of all under developed cities, including Multan.

He said that he himself would monitor the implementation of development package for the city.

“The issues of sewerage and drinking water of Multan will be resolved and water filtration plants will be installed in the constituencies of every parliamentarian,” he said.

He said that the mother and child health hospital in Multan would be presented before the cabinet meeting for approval while planning and development department would decide the priorities of the projects after reviewing the Multan Development Package.

He said that parliamentarians of all divisions would be consulted to identify the development projects of the annual development programme of 2020-21 and all the relevant provincial secretaries would participate in the meetings in this regard.

“Funds of the district Multan for the ongoing year will be released on a priority basis and announcement regarding the big city allowance for all divisional headquarters, including Multan, will be made officially while steps for the construction and repairing of the roads of Multan will be taken as per requirement,” he said.

He said that issue of the establishment of special economic zone in Multan would be taken up with the federal government while steps will be taken for the completion of northern and southern bypasses.

He said the project of dual way road between Multan and Vehari would be initiated under public-private partnership while necessary steps to resolve traffic related issues of Multan would be taken.Talking to Dawn, Mr Dehar said that he was satisfied as his observations would be addressed.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2020