- Sindh CM says Centre yet to release Rs 12 billion package promised by PM to beef up provincial counter-terrorism measures
- PM’s special assistant says PM ready to fulfill promise but Sindh yet to produce tangible results in anti-terror drive
Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday criticised the federal government over the non-release of an Rs 12 billion package for fighting criminals and terrorists to Sindh, saying not a single penny has been released despite Prime Minister Sharif’s repeated promises.
“We are grateful to PM Nawaz Sharif for visiting us every month to encourage us, but it is a matter of grave concern that we don’t have bullet-proof vehicles and jackets to fight terrorists,” said the chief minister while addressing a ceremony.
According to Shah, at least 400 officials have laid down their lives in the ongoing operations against terrorists and criminals in Karachi.
Reacting to Sindh chief minister’s grievances, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Musadik Malik said that the premier was ready to fulfill all his promises for progress of Sindh, but nothing tangible had come from the provincial government as yet.
Citing Metro bus and other water projects, he made it clear that funds would only be released to the province when something substantial would be presented for implementation.
Malik went on to say that the Sindh government was also supposed to present the sovereign guarantees for initiation of the Thar Coal Power project, but it did not happen even though the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s was governing the province second term in a row.
When reminded of Sindh CM’s grievances about the Rs12 billion package for anti-terrorism efforts, Malik said he was not aware about any such promise made by PM Sharif.
On insistence, he said since he was not at his office that was why he could not be too certain. He however added that after the passage of the 18th Amendment, development and security expenditures were the responsibility of the provinces.
