The project for the renovation of the presidency kitchen is likely to get approved with the allocation of 260 million rupees as proposed by the Capital Development Authority. The very proposition of such a plan is striking in itself given the high amount of budget that is expected to be allocated for this project and the likelihood of its acceptance despite the already high expenses of the Aiwan-e-Sadar.
Moreover, as portrayed on television and forums on net, there has been a growing resentment among the public on this issue. Such a move on part of the government creates a paradox that while on one side the public is being asked to cut down their budgets, save energy and other resources, the country’s money on the other hand is being spent lavishly on the decorum and maintenance of places that are under the personal use of high government officials.
Perhaps yes, it might be important to maintain the outlook of certain arenas up to the international standards, but isn’t it the roots of the country we need to focus on first? In a state like Pakistan, torn by an economic crisis, suffering from natural calamities, victimised by terrorism and marked by poor infrastructure and educational standards, there is a dire need on part of the authorities to set their priorities right.
For a huge proportion of our population, whose entire day’s efforts circle around the acquisition of a decent ‘one-time’s meal’, what benefit can a kitchen renovation project offer to them, even if it acquires the capacity of serving 600 VIPs at a time?
WAJIEHA WAHEED
LUMS, Lahore
