BAHAWALPUR: As both federal and Punjab governments have ignored south Punjab in their budget allocations for the next financial year, the political and social circles from the region have criticised both the governments.

According to local political circles, the non-provision of any budgetary allocations, particularly in Punjab, has put to rest the reports of restoration of south Punjab secretariats in Bahawalpur and Multan. The move supports the reports already making rounds that the PML-N governments were gradually heading towards the rollback of the south Punjab secretariats in Bahawalpur and Multan ,which were established by the PTI government with a view to establish the South Punjab province at a later stage though the people of Bahawalpur were reluctant to accept the proposal.

Former PTI minister from Bahawalpur, Samiullah Chaudhry, and Zahoor Ahmed Dhareja of Seraikistan National Council, Pakistan Seraiki Party’s Allam Iqbal Waseem and others belonging to nationalist groups have criticised the government for depriving south Punjab secretariat of its required annual budget.

They feared that the non-provision of the budget would lead towards the wrapping of south Punjab secretariats although PML- N stood for the creation of south Punjab province and the restoration of Bahawalpur province in the past.

They demanded restoration of the required budget of billions of rupees of south Punjab.

It is learnt that for the construction of Bahawalpur South Punjab Secretariat and construction of GOR in Multan, a sum of over Rs7.4bn was required during the next financial year while in the Punjab budget, a proposal to allocate a meager amount was incorporated this year just like the last year. With this meagre proposed allocation this year too, the restoration of South Punjab Secretariat is not in sight.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2024