Reports have been published in the newspapers the other day that President Asif Ali Zardari has promised Center’s help in bridging Sindh’s budgetary deficit. After reading the report, some questions have risen in my mind which I want to share with other readers through these columns.
The reports, in all fairness, should have mentioned some facts and figures as how to much the budgetary deficit of the Sindh province was and how much help President Zardari has more or less committed to provide. Any promise or assurance by the head of the state is in no way less than a commitment which is fulfilled by all concerned on top priority basis.
According to the reports, the president made this promise when Provincial Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuro called on him at the Bilawal House in Karachi. During the meeting, matters pertaining to the legislation in the provincial assembly as well as affairs of the coalition government had also figured.
One can understand that when the speaker of a national or provincial legislature meets the president, the obvious subject to be discussed should be legislation done or being done by the concerned legislature. How come the financial matters of the province had come under discussion when PA Speaker Nisar Khuro had called on President Asif Zardari?
As also mentioned in these reports, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had also called on the president separately. During the meeting, law and order in the province had come under discussion and not the financial matters or the budgetary deficit of the province.
Despite these questions, this is good to note that a promise has been made at the highest level.
MUHAMMAD MURTAZA ZISHAN
Lahore
