The private members' day at Sindh Provincial Assembly, which should have been gainfully utilised by the opposition to its advantage, was wasted due to the disorderliness initiated by PPP MPA Zahid Bhurgari and supported by his colleagues on Tuesday when Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana, after asking for restoration of decorum for at least eight times, adjourned the house to meet again on Friday at 9 am.
The house had assembled at 11:50 am, 170 minutes behind schedule, with Speaker Muzaffar Hussein Shah in the chair. It was only after half an hour, at about 12:25 pm that he retired to his chamber and asked the deputy speaker to run the house.
During question hour, Minister for Excise and Taxation, Sardar Ahmed, in reply to a question from PPP MPA Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, said that the funds allocated for Hyderabad development programme under Prime Minister's package were to be distributed in the four newly created districts on project cost basis, as was decided by the chief minister.
He said that it was wrongly mentioned in the written reply given to the members that distribution of funds was to be carried out on population basis.
The minister repeatedly explained this situation to the members and apologised for the mistake on behalf of the minister for planning and development, who was not present in the house.
Sardar said that the cost of projects for present Hyderabad district was Rs 7.5 billion, whereas for the newly created districts of Matiari, Tando Mohammed Khan and Tando Allah Yar was Rs 3.0 billion.
He said that the PM's package was announced in 2003 and it was yet to be implemented. "Funds are lying with us for implementation of the package," he added.
He said that these funds were meant basically for infrastructure development in the four districts, which include roads, electricity, gas, water and similar facilities.
The minister, in response to supplementary questions, said that the delay occurred as the consultants could not be appointed and even at present the process of appointment of consultants was in the initial stages. He assured the House that there would be no discrimination in carrying out development in the province and there would be no urban/rural consideration. "On the contrary, I am for the development of all underdeveloped areas of the province," he added.
On a question about foreign scholarships, the minister said that the scholarships lapsed because of delay in inviting applications from Sindh and processing further.
He said that the province always carried out its obligations in time and it was the federal government that should be held responsible when foreign scholarships lapsed.
In between the discussion, MQM MPA Muhammad Hussein asked a question about the development activities in Hyderabad and adjoining areas, which prompted Zahid Bhurgari to take the cue. While there was still time to continue question hour for another 25 minutes, Zahid Bgurgari stood up and began counting achievements of the former city district nazim of Hyderabad. He continued doing so without heeding to reminders from the chair to restrict his discussion to the purpose of the question hours, and ignored her.
His attitude heated up emotions among treasury members, and Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Irfanullah Khan Marwat was the first to burst out. "What is this, Madame? Ask these people to sit down, else you adjourn the session," he commanded. Other members on treasury benches followed him, and the deputy speaker adjourned the House to meet again at (not before) 9 am on Friday, March 3.
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