UK’s International Development Committee initiates inquiry over use of development funds for Pakistan

• Funds allocated for the fiscal year 2019-20 for different uplift projects in Pakistan amounts to 58 billion rupees.
• It transpired that nine out of 10 schools built by aid money in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces for children are not safe.
• Pakistan’s funding among all the countries is the highest.

(Karachi) UK’s International Development Committee has initiated an inquiry in the Parliament over use of development funds for various projects in Pakistan. In this regard, the committee has raised reservations whether the funds are being utilised properly or not, BBC's Urdu News website quoted.

It stated the data released by UK Department of International Development transpired that the funds allocated for the fiscal year 2019-20 for different uplift projects in Pakistan amounts to 58 billion rupees (302 million pounds).

This huge sum was given to the organisation for uplift schemes in Pakistan, including the education sector, health, infrastructure, rehabilitation etc, it added.

The website quoted that UK not only provides financial assistance through its International Development Department but it also provides support through other such agencies. The financial support is also provided to different under developed countries like, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Somalia, Bangladesh and others. However, Pakistan’s funding among all the countries is the highest.

It is a matter of fact that this contribution is 23 million pounds less than in the year 2018-19. The department does not give a reason for this, but it is certain that Pakistan is a high risk market where it is also important to see where the British taxpayers' money is being used, it said.

The website highlighted that British newspaper The Financial Times published a news report on August 24 this year, revealing that nine out of 10 schools built by Duffed aid projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces for children are not safe and because of this they have to be educated in temporary schools. According to the paper, the problem was poor structural design of the classrooms and toilets.

The company that Duford contracted to build these schools was a UK-based company called IMC World Wide, which had previously subcontracted to a Pakistani company. It is important to note that IMC is considered to be an important company for developing infrastructure projects in developing countries, it stated.

Following Financial Times report , the British government came into action immediately and asked for the response from the IMC. The IMC identified 261 schools where there was an urgent need to implement safety standards, BBC Urdu News website claimed.

It stated that International Development Minister Alok Sharma told the IMC that they should immediately make the classrooms at their expense as per international standards where children can get free education without fear. He said in a statement, "It is absolutely unacceptable that the schools and classrooms built by IMC with UK support are not in line with the standards we expect."