MUZAFFARBAD, Feb 14: Charity shows organised by the Azad Kashmir government to raise funds for rehabilitating flood-affected people of Neelum Valley proved a losing game, Dawn has learnt.

Last year, the Ministry of Tourism and Archaeology, led by Tahir Khokhar, sold the idea to the finance department which, after much reluctance, allocated Rs800,000 of public money for holding charity-cum-cultural shows at various places in the territory.

But, despite the condition put by the finance department that all proceeds must be deposited in the government’s kitty, the venture ended up spending more money than the directorate of tourism had promised it would earn. Sources say expenditures on the four charity-cum-cultural shows in the towns of Dadyal, Mirpur, Kotli and Muzaffarabad from October 1 to 4 were made by the tourism directorate directly under the orders of Mr Khokhar. Some receipts showed that the minister himself made many ‘purchases’ and expenditures for the events.

However, it took the finance department to issue at least four reminders to the tourism secretariat to provide it details of the income generated from the programmes. The details were finally submitted three days ago.

But sources disclosed that the details of income and expenditure showed that only Rs1.04 million had been earned from the sale of tickets against an overall spending of Rs2.14 million.

Of Rs2.14 million expenditures, Rs1.93 million have been spent on holding of shows, including a payment of Rs800,000 to some musical groups, and Rs209,247 on other heads, including fuel, catering, hotel etc. Indirect expenditures, such as travelling and daily allowances of the relevant government officials, including the minister and his staff, were in addition to that, sources added.

The tourism directorate, sources said, had made a fresh plea, much to the dismay of the finance department, and asked for another Rs303,000 to bridge the gap between income and expenditures. “It’s just like spending a dollar to save a penny,” remarked a finance department official.

Talking with Dawn, Dr Mohsin Shakil, director-general Tourism and Archaeology, maintained that had the shows been held a little earlier, proceeds would have been higher. However, he admitted that the purpose of the shows could not be fulfilled.

When Dawn asked Mr Khokhar what was the point in spending more than Rs2.1 million to generate a little over Rs1 million, he tried to justify the spending by saying that the shows had motivated and entertained people and generated an activity. “Expenditures are bound to occur in such events.”

The minister claimed that some affluent people had pledged donations worth Rs800,000 but with a condition that a “transparent committee should be formed for its utilisation”.