The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has demanded that 50 per cent share of resources and powers should be given to the urban areas so that the rural and urban populations may live in peace in the province.
MQM lawmaker and Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Khuwaja Izharul Hassan taking part in the budget discussion said that for the people of Sindh to live in peace, 50 per cent of the resources will have to be given to the urban areas. The next chief minister will be from the MQM, he said. The policies of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government are biased against Karachi.
“Budgetary funds are misused. Corruption is everywhere. We reject this budget and the policies of the sitting government,” said the MQM leader.
He demanded that the Rangers should be given powers in the whole of Sindh. He said that the PPP government has destroyed not only Karachi, but also Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana. He said that all the districts of Sindh should be given financial resources on the basis of the NFC formula. He criticised Rs 11 billion allocated for the Chief Minister Secretariat and demanded that Rs 5 billion from these funds should be given to the people of Thar. He also demanded to give Rs 50 million from the Governor House’s budget to Thar.
He criticised Health Minister Mahtab Dahar and the performance of his department. He also criticised the performance of the local government, education and other departments of the Sindh government. He expressed apprehension that the ADP budget will go into the pockets of the corruption and commission mafia of Sindh and the people of the province will get nothing. He said the Sindh government has failed to build 140 small dams, in addition to hundreds of other budgetary schemes. He said even the Chinese company that was interested in solid waste management had refused to work with the Sindh government. He said there is corruption of Rs 100 billion annually in the KWSB. He said the rulers have even failed to give Karachiites drinking water. He warned that the scheme of Bahria Town will not be given even a drop of water from the K-VI.
Earlier, Senior Minister for Education and Literacy Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said, “We will oppose the division of the Sindh province. The Sindh Assembly has already passed many resolutions in this regard. We will complete old schemes of the education department and also work on new schemes. Due to efforts of government literacy has been improved in the province.”
Due to Iftar time, the leader of the opposition could not conclude his speech. It was decided that on Friday he will conclude his speech and later the provincial finance minister and the chief minister will wind up the budget debate.
Later, the speaker adjourned the House till Friday, June 24 at 2:00 pm.
