Leader of the Opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani has asked the provincial government to tell the people the truth that how much it received from the federal government out of its total Rs 110 billion arrears on hydel power generation.
Initiating debate on the provincial budget for 2011-12 in provincial assembly on Monday, the former chief minister expressed astonishment over the statement of the finance minister expecting Rs 25 billion from the federal government on hydel power generation. He said it was their government, which resolved the issue with the then federal government but the sitting government showed no progress during the last four years.
Akram Durrani also observed that the government could not chalk out any planning during the last four years for the generation and promotion of the hydel power, gas, minerals and tourism. He said the terrorism had paralysed the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but only Rs 22 billion had been allocated posing as a question that how much fund the government of Pakistan had received in the name of terrorism and how much was given to their province.
Durrani, who is also the parliamentary leader of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) demanded of the provincial government to bring real figures about losses caused by war on terror. He observed the government could achieve better results if proper funds were allocated for the promotion of agriculture, mega projects including CRBC, Left Canal and others in the province but unfortunately that was not done. He also criticised the media for airing news without confirmation, which create unrest and disappointment among the people as well as bad name for the nation.
Qalandar Khan Lodhi, the parliamentary leader of PML-Q objected to en-block allocations in annual development programme. He said that the government had allocated insufficient funds for the important sector like communication and termed investment in the sector essential for the economic growth of the province.
He expressed surprise over differences of figures in the budget speech and ADP, saying that the finance minister had talked about the construction of 574 kilometer roads and 41 bridges, but the ADP is totally silent in this regard. Similarly, he said that the allocation of maximum funds for agriculture sector can help us in achieving self-sufficiency in food.
Khalifa Abdul Qayyum, an independent, legislator from D.I. Khan demanded the construction of Chashma Right Bank Left Canal to irrigate the huge agricultural lands of the area. He said that the construction of only Left Canal had brought unprecedented increase in the production of sugarcane and establishment of five sugarcane mills in the district. The PML-N Inayatullah Khan Jadoon termed the budget as jugglery of words saying he had not seen such jugglery during the last four years. He pointed contradictions in government's claims in the budget regarding the ongoing developmental schemes. He said the government should honour its commitment and solve the people problems. Later, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings of the house till 5:00 PM Tuesday.