Following in the footsteps of the federal government and showing a complete disregard for the directions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Punjab government has also been approving new development schemes with impunity, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Through a notification issued on January 22, the ECP had directed the federal, provincial and local governments to ban diversion of funds already allocated to various development projects. Furthermore, the ECP termed such spending in the constituencies at this time “nothing short of yet another facet of pre-poll rigging” which if not checked would make the elections “tainted” and falling short of the constitutional provisions contained in article 218(3) of the constitution.
However, the federal government recently decided to approve development schemes worth billions of rupees right before going into elections. When the media highlighted the issue, the prime minister defended the stance saying no one could stop them from serving the people.
The Punjab government has recently approved 11 schemes in various sectors worth approximately Rs 13 billion in the 30th meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) chaired by Planning and Development Department Chairman Javaid Aslam.
Notable schemes which have been approved include upgrading of the DHQ hospital in Kasur, design of remedial measures for Dewal Landslide and reconstruction of RMK Road at Dewal Landslide, widening of road from Bunga Hayat-Pakpattan-Arifwala in Pakpattan and widening and improvement of Sargodha-Gujrat Road. Major schemes in the energy sector included construction of Deg-Outfall Hydel Power Station Sheikhupura, construction of Pakpattan Hydel Power Station Pakpattan and Construction of Chianwali Hydel Power Station Gujranwala, while more than Rs 3 billion were approved only for the construction of Marala Hydel Power Station in Sialkot.
A senior official, on the condition of anonymity, explained, “When a scheme has political backing of a strong MP, the department concerned brings it to the PDWP for approval of funds, because all the rest of the schemes have already been mentioned in the ADP at the start of the year.”
The revelation sent shockwaves even within the ranks of bureaucrats who termed the move “outrageous” and in “defiance of the ECP directions”.
A senior official, on condition of anonymity said, “If the PML-N top leadership had decided not to paste their photographs on the ad campaign of the BRTS, the step by the Planning and Development Department is definitely outrageous. Giving approval to new schemes, mostly politically-backed, is a clear defiance of the orders.”
Sources said road-widening and energy sector schemes right before the elections spoke for themselves that they were “politically-motivated”.
They revealed that the matter had shocked many other senior officials as well.
Finance Secretary Tariq Bajwa had put his foot down on the issue, saying the Finance Department would not release finances for these schemes.
Upon this, Javaid Aslam wrote a note to Chief Secretary Nasir Khosa bringing the matter to his attention. Khosa, in turn has now written to the ECP seeking directions on the issue and true “interpretation” on the matter. The Planning and Development chairman was not available for comments.
However, the finance secretary said the Finance Department had not and would not release funds for any new scheme, adding the ECP had been contacted for interpretation on the matter.
