Debate on Sindh budget continues: MQM's resolution against federal minister disallowed

A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) woman lawmaker on Thursday hit out at Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government, saying that province had 'ruined' in its seven years of rule and now it looked like 'Moenjodaro'. The budget debate in the Sindh Assembly entered the third day as the PML-N's Sorath Thebo blamed the PPP for its seven years of continuing rule in the province but did nothing to improve the basic infrastructure and boost up healthcare and education facilities.
She said the PPP had virtually made the Sindh as 'Moenjodaro' despite it had claimed to have spent billions of rupees but the infrastructure had ruined in the last seven years with no revamping efforts. "Medicines are not available in hospitals. Youth is committing suicide for being jobless and no public transport system in place," she said.
MQM's Rauf Siddiqui said that the case registered on Baldia factory inferno was being diverted to other directions on a set plot, adding that he had resigned following the blaze that killed some 245 workers.
He said that he had got the case registered for the inferno. He also slammed Federal Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif for his 'anti-Muhajir' remarks, saying the minister had hurt the feelings of 50 million people whose forefathers had migrated to Pakistan in 1947. He urged the prime minister to take notice of Khwaja Asif's remarks. PPP's Irum Khalid appreciated her government's budget for next fiscal year and hoped the 'public friendly' financial plan would help improve the people's lives and ensure development. The budget would also ensure improved healthcare facilities to the patients, besides generating thousands of new jobs, she said.
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, Muhammad Rafiq Banbhan also criticised the PPP for underdevelopment in the province during the last seven years of its rule. "In the last seven years, the PPP could only manage to present budget but did nothing to ensure development. No improvement is seen," he said.
MQM's Moin Amir Pirzada criticised the PPP government for 'embankment' work at Malir River at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion was 'unnecessary' and showed dissatisfaction over the budget for earmarking no uplift project to Korangi. PPP's Kulsoom Chandio hit back at opposition, saying that her party's government was being subjected to criticism for the sake of criticism. She defended her party's government for 'huge' development in the province. "These people should go to see themselves," she said, adding that the PPP was elected for its uplift work in the province and public appreciated it. The MQM lawmakers again failed to get their resolution against Khawaja Asif tabled during the assembly session and walked out of the house in protest. Speaker, Aga Siraj Khan Durrani denied them to present the resolution despite their requisition.
Sindh Finance Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah told the house the federal government had withheld its revenue share amounting Rs 54 billion till date. He said that the province could only get Rs 16 billion share by June 3, 2015, forcing it to face a Rs 70 billion of shortfall this fiscal year. He warned that if Sindh did not get its share then it would have to face financial crunch in days to come.