SAHIWAL: PML-N parliamentarians have received Rs1.80 billion in development funds from the Punjab government for the ongoing financial year 2024-25 in district Sahiwal. Sources revealed that each PML-N parliamentarian was allocated Rs300 million to initiate various development schemes in their respective constituencies.

Interestingly, the Punjab government did not allocate any development funds to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians from the district. Of three MNAs and seven MPAs seats in Sahiwal, PML-N won one MNA and five MPAs seats, while PTI secured two MNAs and two MPAs seats in the 2024 general elections.

Notably, Chaudhry Usman won NA-142 as a PTI-backed candidate defeating Chaudhry Ashraf of PML-N. However, Ch. Usman recently switched his loyalties to PML-N and reportedly voted for the party during the recently passed 26th Amendment. Despite this, confirmed reports suggest that no development schemes have been approved for Mr Usman.

Muhammad Akram, deputy director of development, said that a total of 107 development schemes related to the Highway Department, Local Government, and Public Health have been identified by six PML-N parliamentarians.

He confirmed that Rs901 million out of the total funds have already been released, with all approved schemes incorporated into the ongoing Punjab Government Annual Development Plan.

Sources say that the remaining funds are expected to be released before June 2025. The parliamentarians whose development funds have been approved include MNA Pir Imran Shah and MPAs Malik Arshad, Qasim Nadeem, Naveed Aslam Lodhi, Pir Wallayt Shah and Rana Riaz.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024