Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday approved three demands for grants worth Rs 2.176 billion out of the total 59 demands for grants of Rs 303 billion. The minister for law and parliamentary affairs, Arshad Abdullah presented demands for grants for provincial assembly worth Rs 79.518 million. The house unanimously approved the demand for grants as usual.
The parliamentary leader of Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) Sikandar Sherpao, PML-N Abdus Sattar Khan and PML-Q Qalandar Lodhi presented cut motions when law minister moved demands for grants worth Rs 1,45,28,80,000 on behalf of the chief minister for the department of General Administration. Sikandar pointed out that wrong figure had been shown in the budget for General Administration Department and what could be expected from others departments. He said Rs 38 millions had been allocated for the expenditures of the chief minister's house but Rs 51 millions were spent suggesting the government to reduce expenditures. He said the government has failed to curtail its expenditures.
Abdul Sattar Khan asked the chief minister to follow the foot prints of the chief minister Punjab to reduce expenditures, spent it on students' scholarship to establish precedents for future governments. The PML-Q's Qalandar Lodhi criticised performance of the department.
Minister for Law, Arshad Abdullah said the government had always tried to present correct figures, however, human errors could be possible. He assured to correct the figures if any. He said due to security reasons, functions were organised in chief minister's house throughout the years, which enhanced their expenditures. On the request of the provincial minister the movers withdrew their cut motions to pave way for the approval of the grants.
The Leader of Opposition, Akram Khan Durrani, Sikandar Sherpao, Sardar Aurangzeb, Abdul Sattar of PML-N and JUI-F's Mufti Kifyatullah and Mufti Janan in their cut motions debated performance of finance when its minister moved demands for grants for Local Funds Audit worth Rs 64,45,33,000. Durrani said it was their duty to pin point defects in the budget. He said the administrative secretaries were not taking interests in proceedings despite the presence of ministers. Sherpao said there should be clear procedure for release of funds from finance departments as delaying tactics from the officials breached members' privilege.
Mufti Kifyat posed a question if Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar scheme recovery is 99.58 percent then where the recovery of two billions rupees has been shown in the budget. Sardar Aurangzeb and Abdul Sattar termed performance of finance department as disappointing. Finance Minister Hamayun Khan said the procedure of the Annual Development Program was clear under which 50 percent fund was released in the first week of July while the remaining 50 percent was released in January. He said it was not right to term it a deficit budget because both the federal and provincial governments released extra fund for the completion of some projects.
He said their government would receive Rs 25 billions from the federal government for electricity arrears besides getting more relief from center.
He said majority of the members discussed the supplementary budget than that of the current. He said the provincial government has not spent extra expenditures but brought extra fund from the federal government for developmental projects resulting in the presentation of Rs 29 billions and 62 cror supplementary budget.
The finance minister said that the provincial government was enhancing provincial income resources by establishing Oil and Gas companies. He said the province would be getting Rs 22 billions in the war against terrorism and the federal government has given Rs 11 billions extra to KPK government as Malakand package.
He said inquiry would be conducted against those giving wrong information regarding Balambut irrigation scheme. He said the government would hold investigation as it has breached privilege of the house. He said the P&D was working to overcome the problems and delay in the ADP's umbrella schemes.
Earlier, Tabbasum Shams of ANP said proper attention was given to every sector including health and education. Syed Murid Kazim, an independent legislator from D.I. Khan appreciated the budget saying giving identity to KP, increasing provincial resources and establishing wild life park were achievements of the government. The PPP's Zamin Khan termed extra expenditure without house approval as illegal under article 124 of the constitution.
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