The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has lifted ban on diversion of funds for development projects and allowed competent forums to carry out their functions of granting approval to development schemes.
The ECP has relaxed its directive regarding ban on diversion of funds to extent that re-appropriation/adjustment of funds will be allowed in respect of schemes approved by competent forums for the fiscal year 2012-13.
In a letter issued on March 7, the ECP directed and allowed competent forums formed for the approval of development schemes such as Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP), Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to carry on their functions of granting approval to development schemes in accordance with laid down procedure.
This development came on the same day when Federal Finance Minister Salim Mandviwala had met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and assured the ECP that the funds would soon be provided to the ECP enabling it to hold the general elections smoothly. After the meeting, the CEC had said, “The meeting with Mandviwala was fruitful and he has assured that the funds will be released soon.” Sources said that the finance minister in the meeting had stressed the CEC over lifting ban on diversion of funds for development schemes. In January 2013, the ECP had banned diversion of funds allocated for development projects and stopped the spending of the diverted funds.
