ISLAMABAD: Convener standing committee for planning and development Senator Nisar Muhammad has asked for details of three billion funds released for research workshop and Rs 27 billion for unapproved projects. He canceled the authority of planning and development division to release funds for unapproved projects and releasing funds up to 150 to 200 million for very sensitive government projects. He showed his grieve concern over the situation and said these unapproved funds become hurdle in completion of important national projects. He was distressed to know that some Federal Ministries receive funds without even filling the Performa.
The convention was held in Parliament house where Secretary planning and development Hassan Nawaz Tarar told that funds for 1042 projects have been released and discontinued for 56 projects. He said development budget is low in comparison to the region due to tax to GDP ratio. Country lacks in nutrition facilities, health and education are also receiving fewer funds than the other countries of region.
He added, provinces can allocate funds up to 10 billion from their reserves, 60 million for DDWP and 13 billion for CWP. In the current year Federal Ministries have asked for additional 81 billion funds. Ministry of planning and development has issued 40 percent of funds for all the projects of PSDP.
Senator Yousuf Badini said that the cost of very important projects of Baluchistan has increased many times due to delay of several years. Senator Saeed Ghani showed his grief over the Lyary express project which is discontinued since 2000.
CDA member finance Sher Baz Arbab informed the convention that government was requested to increase tax in 2012 but government did not approved the increment due to the local body elections, now the Prime Minister has approved the increment and Federal Cabinet will also allow reviewing this increment.
Member Engineering Shahid Sohail revealed that the reason for delay in construction of family suites adjacent to Parliament lodges is that CDA had to return 700 million to government, furthermore he told that 17 projects were approved this year by PSDP out of which six have been started.
Senator Nisar Muhammad asked Secretary Ministry of Planning and Development to place development projects of FATA on first priority because it is important to give poor children of that area their rights and stop them from becoming suicide bombers instead of giving laptops to children belonging to well off families.
