APCC meeting marred by protests

A meeting of the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) to finalise development outlay for the next fiscal year and propose GDP growth target of 5.7 percent was marred by protests as smaller provinces protested against federal government''s ''biased'' outlook. A participant of the meeting maintained that Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri after a heated debate and exchange of words with Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal over allocation of what he said inadequate funds for development provinces staged a walkout from the meeting.
They added the Chief Minister accused the Minister of not allocating funds for the projects in Balochistan. The minister on the other hand stated that Chief Minister was not properly briefed because federal government had made allocation for Sui project during the last two years but Balochistan government had not forwarded a PC-1.
Sources also claimed that after Secretary planning and Development failed to persuade an enraged Chief Minister Balochsitan, the Minister himself went to the Balochistan House where he eventually convinced him to return to the meeting.
Finance Minister Khyber Pkahtunkhaw Muzaffar Said also lodged a protest against the federal government during the meeting, sources claimed. The provincial Finance Minister said he would raise the matter in front of media if the commitments made by the Planning and Development were not fulfilled in the next four to five days. He said the minister has assured him that he will include CPEC route from Jhand to Kohat as well as Indus highway Peshawar and Chesham Right Bank Canal project and Baran Dam in the federal PSDP for funding.
He said the federal government has not included even a single scheme in the federal PSDP. He added that they have given a number of schemes to the federal government for funding but these were not considered, which led to their protests. Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms said on Friday that budget as well as National Economic Council (NEC) may be delayed due to extension in Prime Minister''s stay abroad.
The NEC meeting was tentatively scheduled for May 30 and budget was to be presented on June 3, however, Ahsan Iqbal said he would also be holding meetings with provinces to allay their concerns over their shares in federal development budget. When asked about NEC meeting, he said the meeting may be delayed for a few days, as prime minister may have to prolong his stay in London due to medical reasons. He said he was not sure whether the budget would be announced as per schedule because finance minister was is in touch with Prime Minister to know about latest update of his check-up.