Punjab budget, small cabinet big expenses:Ch Zaheer

Lahore:Pakistan Muslim League parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly Ch. Zaheeruddin Khan has strongly demanded expungement of objectionable remarks from the budget speech of the Finance Minister about bad circumstances in Balochistan which he had made with the approval of the Chief Minister and the Provincial Cabinet.

Taking part in the general discussion on Budget 2012-13 in the Provincial Assembly here today. Ch. Zaheeruddin said that the Chief Minister Punjab had allocated Rs. 9 million for his helicopter during outgoing financial year and now a huge amount of Rs. 39 million have been provided in the new budget which is Rs. 30.33 million more than last year. He said that it is clear that he wants to utilize this huge allocation for running election campaign. He said that we would not allow him to run election campaign with public money.

Ch. Zaheeruddin Khan said that according to a report of the Auditor General of Pakistan, corruption of billions of rupees has been committed in Sasti Roti and jute bags procurement and PLS accounts have been opened in large number with public money. Continuing Ch. Zaheeruddin Khan said that during his tenure Ch. Parvez Elahi had made education free up to Matric in the province and asked the Finance Minister whether this concession was further enhanced to Intermediate or graduation level.
He said that the claimant of breaking begging bowl are securing this year 11.48 billion worth loans as foreign aid. He said the province is annually paying interest of Rs. 19 billion on loans out of which 85 percent are foreign loans. He said that those challenging the Federation are getting 83 percent resources from the Federation. He said trend of small cabinet and big expenses should be changed. The PML parliamentary leader said that those who are trying to do politics on load shedding should tell how much mega watt of power was generated by his government.

He asked as to why 42 colleges constructed during the tenure of the previous govt. are not being provided teachers, staff and furniture to make them functional. He questioned what wisdom is there to construct three Daanish schools by spending expenses of Rs. 90 crore.
Presenting facts and figures.
Ch. Zaheeruddin Khan said funds of Rs. 414.973 million were allocated last year for the Chief Minister and the ministers against which Rs. 522.823 million which are 25.99 percent more and amply negate the austerity claims of the present rulers. Likewise an allocation of Rs. 71.253 million were provided for VIP flights of the Chief Minister and the ministers against which Rs. 78.032 million were spent which is 10 percent more.
Ch. Zaheeruddin said that against provision of Rs. 9 million for petrol of the Chief Minister’s helicopter, Rs. 35 million were utilized whereas and allocation of Rs. 39 million has been made for next financial year which is as much as 333.33 percent more than the last year’s original allocation. He said that the Chief Minister has spent Rs. 23 million on gifts against an allocation of Rs. 7 million and asked that the names of the recipients of these gifts should also be made public.
He demanded that separate specific forces should be set up for VVIP security, for cattle lifting and proclaimed offenders and patrolling posts be made functional and provided petrol. He also asked provision of funds in the budget for procurement of ‘moonji’, silos storage be provided for storing wheat. Ch. Zaheeruddin Khan demanded that local bodies election be held and strategy be evolved for payment of loans of Punjab and Ch. Parvez Elahi’s vision 20-20 be implemented due to which growth rate was 8 per annum during previous regime.