PESHAWAR: Treasury and opposition members on Tuesday continued to lock horns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly over the allocation of funds for development schemes amid commotion.

Members from the merged tribal districts protested and staged a walkout when chair didn’t give them the floor to take part in the discussion over the unavailability of funds for the ongoing development schemes in the province and release of funds to MNAs.

The opposition MPAs asked the government to give a clear reply whether it was going to give an equitable share in the annual development programme (ADP) 2020-21. They sought a ruling of Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani on the lingering issue.

The speaker, who presided over the sitting earlier, said he was ready to mediate between the government and opposition to resolve dispute over the allocation of funds.

Speaker says he’ll talk to CM for a meeting on the matter

He admitted that the government and opposition had clinched an agreement over allocation of funds that would be implemented.

Mr Ghani said he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to convene a meeting of the joint committee of the treasury and opposition to resolve differences over the release of funds for development schemes.

He said the meeting of the joint committee would be convened next week to discuss the matter thoroughly and ensure implementation of the agreement.

Taking part in the discussion, Awami National Party member Sardar Hussain Babak alleged that the government had backtracked from its agreement with the opposition regarding release of funds for development schemes.

He asked the government to make it clear whether it gave fair share in the ADP to the opposition members or not.

Mr Babak said the opposition would make its future line of action after receiving a formal reply from the government. He also sought the chair’s ruling on the issue.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPA Maulana Lutfur Rehman said work on development schemes had been virtually stopped in the province except select constituencies.

He said the chief minister had resolved all issues with the opposition regarding release of funds.

“The government hasn’t spent a singly penny in my constituency in Dera Ismail Khan district during the last two years,” he claimed.

The lawmaker said projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative had yet to be completed in the province.

He said KP had suffered due to delay in the completion of CPEC projects.

Mr Rehman alleged that the federal government attempted to roll back the CPEC projects.

Pakistan Muslim League MPA Sardar Mohammad Yousaf said the government had practically breached the privilege of the house by not implementing agreement with the government.

He said the government should not give development funds to MNAs.

Pakistan Peoples Party member Ahmad Kundi said chairpersons of the District Development Advisory Committees in Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts had not been appointed which affected pace of work on development schemes.

He said the government should strengthen institutions instead of releasing funds on the directives of personalities.

He said the opposition was compelled to go to the court against unfair allocation of funds.

Concluding debate, finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra blamed the opposition members for delay in completion and execution of development schemes.

He said some opposition members instead of resolving issues on the floor of the house went to other forums (court) for the release of funds.

The minister said development schemes in Peshawar district were affected by the stay order issued by the court.

He said the government was making efforts to ensure fair allocation and utilisation of development funds.

“Development funds belong to the people and not MPAs and will be utilised on merit. The government will carry out record development work in the next two years,” he said.

The minister admitted that pace of work on development schemes had been affected by financial problems during the last two years.

He said economy was growing and the government would show more efficiency in funds utilisation after record decline in Covid-19 cases.

Mr Jhagra said Kohat division generated Rs2 billion on account of oil and gas royalty and therefore, the government would spend a specific amount on infrastructure development in those districts.

During question hour, social welfare minister Hisham Inamullah Khan said a proposal was under consideration to increase employment quota for persons with disability from two per cent to five per cent.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2020