Will no longer tolerate bias against Sindh, reiterates Murad Ali Shah

[Riz]

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday hit back at the government over alleged bias in allocating funds for development projects, adding that the provincial government would "no longer tolerate it".

Addressing a press conference, Shah said: "Don't make an East India Company here. We will not tolerate it, we will resist. Don't treat Sindh in this way and don't create two Pakistans.

"The federal government is spending money on the provinces. Fine, but at least consult with us and look at the priorities. We are the representatives.," he said, adding that it was obvious other priorities were being looked at when making allocations for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

It is not a good thing that you are going to union councils to make roads and drains under the prime minister's programme, he said.

Shah also said that schemes were allocated in the PDSP without informing the province due to "pressure". "During one of the meetings, a gentlemen said that their hands were tied due to pressure from MNAs and MPAs. I stayed quiet, but this is contempt of court," he said, stating that the Supreme Court had said funds could not be given to MNAs and MPAs.

Union Council schemes for Gujrat and Bahawalpur were included in the prime ministers' programme, he said, adding that this was being done as the government was facing "problems" with the voter bank in these areas.

"Many of the PDSP schemes are for south Punjab because they are facing issues there." He stated that development funds should be given to the provinces so that they can address the needs of the people.

"They say they will give funds to the people of Sindh, not the government. Why is this only applicable to Sindh? They used to say Pakistan is one not two. Is this one Pakistan?"

The chief minister made it clear that his grievances were with the federal government and not with the other provinces.

"I am elated when I hear about development in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. this is only for comparison, to show the discrimination against us. Spend four times as much money [in other provinces]. but if you do that then give us more too."

He claimed that allocations for development projects were being done "directly from Islamabad" to address "drains in union councils".

Letter to PM Imran
Last week, Shah had urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to reconsider the proposed PDSP, terming it lopsided as it was ‘detrimental’ to the interests of people living in the province.

In a strongly worded letter to the prime minister, he said ever since the current federal government came to power, it was treating Sindh with an abject bias. "Grave injustice is being meted out to the people of Sindh ever since the current federal government came into power in August 2018," he wrote in the letter.

Giving the four-year break-up of the number of schemes and their allocation for provincially executed projects for Sindh in the PSDP, he said only six schemes with a total allocation of Rs5,069.14 million were proposed in 2021, while the number of schemes in 2017-18 was 27 with a total allocation of Rs23,387.21m.

He said there were 10 schemes with allocation of Rs8,302m in 2020-21, 13 schemes of Rs8.508.85m in 2019-20 and 22 schemes with allocation of 14,266.72m in 2018-19.

A day later, federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar hit back at Shah over his letter and affirmed the federal government’s commitment to development projects in Sindh.

Umar said if the allocations set aside for federal projects in Sindh in the last three years of the previous government were compared to the incumbent government's three years, then there was an increase of more than 32 per cent.

He hit out at CM Murad and alleged he was "confused" and couldn't differentiate between the people of the province and the provincial government. "Chief minister sahab you are definitely [a part of] Sindh's government but you are not Sindh's masses and we have to spend money on Sindh's people, not the government," Umar said.

Umar claimed that previously, funds sent to the provincial government had instead been diverted to other purposes such as accumulating properties and assets instead of being spent on Sindh and the people of the province were aware about this.

He added that Prime Minister Imran Khan had within one year announced two historic development packages for Sindh which covered rural and urban areas with a total of 18 districts being covered under the two packages.

Will no longer tolerate bias against Sindh, reiterates Murad Ali Shah

Says federal govt is spending money on development projects without consulting with the provinces.

www.dawn.com

Just paid money to taliban please kill these scumbags for the sake of pakistan

 

[313ghazi]

The provincial government spits all over the city on purpose, the federal government steps in to aid the people directly in the absence and willful negligence of the provincial government, as is its duty, the provincial government starts throwing a hissy fit which would not make sense to an infant, and you decide to blame the people of that city for complaining against that provincial government? How does that make sense?

If an elected party gives anti-state pro-separation statements then their should be a case of treason against them. If you criticized Altaf for it, don't shy away when its the PPP snakes doing the same.

Is it possible for the central govt to reduce the budget share it gives to Sindh govt and instead spend that money itself on fedaral projects in Sindh? Or is the slice of pie constitutionally declared or something?

 

[Blacklight]

Is it possible for the central govt to reduce the budget share it gives to Sindh govt and instead spend that money itself on fedaral projects in Sindh? Or is the slice of pie constitutionally declared or something?

18th Amendment guarantees them a share?

 

[313ghazi]

18th Amendment guarantees them a share?

Does it say what percentage?

 

[Blacklight]

Does it say what percentage?

TBH, dont know.

 

[GumNaam]

looks like the zardari et al are no longer getting their 10% in anything!

 

[krash]

Is it possible for the central govt to reduce the budget share it gives to Sindh govt and instead spend that money itself on fedaral projects in Sindh? Or is the slice of pie constitutionally declared or something?

18th Amendment guarantees them a share?

Constitutionally protected through the NFC Awards which are based on a split by population (82%), poverty/backwardness (10.3%), revenue collection (5%) and inverse population density (2.7%). The amounts awarded also have to be approved by the provinces. The center can't distribute anything by itself, otherwise a PPP federal government would spend everything on Larkana and a PMLN federal government would spend everything on Lahore.

Quite reasonably, the federal government's responsibility with regards to direct funding in any region is limited to emergencies and/or projects of federal import/value, e.g. drought in Balochistan, ports in Karachi, dams in KPK, so and so forth. Projects of localized value are the provincial government's responsibility. That said, it still is the parliament's and the center's responsibility that a constitutional mechanism is created, exactly as on the federal level, which ensures that the provincial funds, both from federal and provincial taxes, are mandatorily further distributed to local governing bodies on a just and equal basis. This mechanism does not exist and leaves the provincial governments free to spend most of their budgets as they see fit. So, Karachi gets less from Sindh, Lahore gets most from Punjab.

 

[Clutch]

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday hit back at the government over alleged bias in allocating funds for development projects, adding that the provincial government would "no longer tolerate it".

Addressing a press conference, Shah said: "Don't make an East India Company here. We will not tolerate it, we will resist. Don't treat Sindh in this way and don't create two Pakistans.

"The federal government is spending money on the provinces. Fine, but at least consult with us and look at the priorities. We are the representatives.," he said, adding that it was obvious other priorities were being looked at when making allocations for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

It is not a good thing that you are going to union councils to make roads and drains under the prime minister's programme, he said.

Shah also said that schemes were allocated in the PDSP without informing the province due to "pressure". "During one of the meetings, a gentlemen said that their hands were tied due to pressure from MNAs and MPAs. I stayed quiet, but this is contempt of court," he said, stating that the Supreme Court had said funds could not be given to MNAs and MPAs.

Union Council schemes for Gujrat and Bahawalpur were included in the prime ministers' programme, he said, adding that this was being done as the government was facing "problems" with the voter bank in these areas.

"Many of the PDSP schemes are for south Punjab because they are facing issues there." He stated that development funds should be given to the provinces so that they can address the needs of the people.

"They say they will give funds to the people of Sindh, not the government. Why is this only applicable to Sindh? They used to say Pakistan is one not two. Is this one Pakistan?"

The chief minister made it clear that his grievances were with the federal government and not with the other provinces.

"I am elated when I hear about development in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. this is only for comparison, to show the discrimination against us. Spend four times as much money [in other provinces]. but if you do that then give us more too."

He claimed that allocations for development projects were being done "directly from Islamabad" to address "drains in union councils".

Letter to PM Imran
Last week, Shah had urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to reconsider the proposed PDSP, terming it lopsided as it was ‘detrimental’ to the interests of people living in the province.

In a strongly worded letter to the prime minister, he said ever since the current federal government came to power, it was treating Sindh with an abject bias. "Grave injustice is being meted out to the people of Sindh ever since the current federal government came into power in August 2018," he wrote in the letter.

Giving the four-year break-up of the number of schemes and their allocation for provincially executed projects for Sindh in the PSDP, he said only six schemes with a total allocation of Rs5,069.14 million were proposed in 2021, while the number of schemes in 2017-18 was 27 with a total allocation of Rs23,387.21m.

He said there were 10 schemes with allocation of Rs8,302m in 2020-21, 13 schemes of Rs8.508.85m in 2019-20 and 22 schemes with allocation of 14,266.72m in 2018-19.

A day later, federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar hit back at Shah over his letter and affirmed the federal government’s commitment to development projects in Sindh.

Umar said if the allocations set aside for federal projects in Sindh in the last three years of the previous government were compared to the incumbent government's three years, then there was an increase of more than 32 per cent.

He hit out at CM Murad and alleged he was "confused" and couldn't differentiate between the people of the province and the provincial government. "Chief minister sahab you are definitely [a part of] Sindh's government but you are not Sindh's masses and we have to spend money on Sindh's people, not the government," Umar said.

Umar claimed that previously, funds sent to the provincial government had instead been diverted to other purposes such as accumulating properties and assets instead of being spent on Sindh and the people of the province were aware about this.

He added that Prime Minister Imran Khan had within one year announced two historic development packages for Sindh which covered rural and urban areas with a total of 18 districts being covered under the two packages.

Will no longer tolerate bias against Sindh, reiterates Murad Ali Shah

Says federal govt is spending money on development projects without consulting with the provinces.

www.dawn.com

Problem is that PeePeePee is biased against Sindh through its Bhutto only worship.

 

[Blacklight]

Constitutionally protected through the NFC Awards which are based on population distribution. The amounts awarded also have to be approved by the provinces. The center can't distribute anything by itself, otherwise a PPP federal government would spend everything on Larkana and a PMLN federal government would spend everything on Lahore.

Quite reasonably, the federal government's responsibility with regards to direct funding in any region is limited to emergencies and/or projects of federal import/value, e.g. drought in Balochistan, ports in Karachi, dams in KPK, so and so forth. Projects of localized value are the provincial government's responsibility. That said, it still is the parliament's and the center's responsibility that a constitutional mechanism is created, exactly like on the federal level, which ensures that the provincial funds, both from federal and provincial taxes, are mandatorily further distributed to local governing bodies on a just and equal basis. This mechanism does not exist and leaves the provincial governments free to spend most of their budgets as they see fit. So, Karachi gets less from Sindh, Lahore gets most from Punjab.

Bro, all valid points, except one. PPP does not spend on Larkana. It has a policy of spending only on it self, thats it.

 

[Meengla]

Constitutionally protected through the NFC Awards which are based on a split by population (82%), poverty/backwardness (10.3%), revenue collection (5%) and inverse population density (2.7%). The amounts awarded also have to be approved by the provinces. The center can't distribute anything by itself, otherwise a PPP federal government would spend everything on Larkana and a PMLN federal government would spend everything on Lahore.

Quite reasonably, the federal government's responsibility with regards to direct funding in any region is limited to emergencies and/or projects of federal import/value, e.g. drought in Balochistan, ports in Karachi, dams in KPK, so and so forth. Projects of localized value are the provincial government's responsibility. That said, it still is the parliament's and the center's responsibility that a constitutional mechanism is created, exactly like on the federal level, which ensures that the provincial funds, both from federal and provincial taxes, are mandatorily further distributed to local governing bodies on a just and equal basis. This mechanism does not exist and leaves the provincial governments free to spend most of their budgets as they see fit. So, Karachi gets less from Sindh, Lahore gets most from Punjab.

Good explanation.
I don't think the Fed. Govt should take out of Sindh govt's share to spend directly. Once there are such deviations from the Constitution of Pakistan then there are no limits. Hate the 18th Amendment, hate some of the actions of the Supreme Court, but what is written as final law must be followed unless another Const. Amendment changes bad laws.
Pakistan's history is full of deviations from the Constitutions. Change laws but don't break laws! Otherwise, it is a slippery-slope to Anarchy.

As for the PPP, as I said, the party has decided that it is content enough to keep Sindh and would anything, including using ethnic divisions, to gain power. The solution to that is counter political process. Jam Sadiq--a former PPP strongman himself-- with the help of the Establishment put PPP in place even in Sindh.

 

[Blacklight]

The solution to that is counter political process. Jam Sadiq--a former PPP strongman himself-- with the help of the Establishment put PPP in place even in Sindh.

The same corrupt guy who introduced China cutting to Karachi, and was told he can sell everything with the exception of the Quaid's Mazar?

 

[Meengla]

The same corrupt guy who introduced China cutting to Karachi, and was told he can sell everything with the exception of the Quaid's Mazar?

Did I say I want Jam Sadiq himself??? It was an example of a guy matching in political cunningness with Zardari to politically put PPP in place.

Anyway, watch this interview by Saheen Sehbai. A veteran political commentator in Pakistan whom I used to read in the 1980s. He is saying some very serious things not just for Sindh but also for the Fed. Govt and for the stability of Pakistan. He is exactly on the same page as me: PPP is going to play the Sindh Card to win the next elections and that there will be a strong reaction from the Urdu Speakers. The burning of Baharia Town Karachi was the first salvo by PPP while hiding behind other forces and there are going to be MORE and MORE such incidents.

 

[Blacklight]

Did I say I want Jam Sadiq himself??? It was an example of a guy matching in political cunningness with Zardari to politically put PPP in place.

I was just asking if it was the same guy, you were referring to.

 

[Meengla]

I was just asking if it was the same guy, you were referring to.

Yes. And here is a political joke from the 70s: Jam Sadiq had a reputation of corruption under the ZAB govt in Sindh. Buying properties. A prototype of Zardari! One day ZAB said to him in Sindhi something like 'Oh Jam! Will you at least leave my house in Clifton and the Quaid e Azam Mazaar alone!?'. Hahahah!

If you watch the S. Sehbai video as I posted above, he, like me in my first post in this thread, is also baffled: Why play the Sindh Card so early?! It may backfire on Zardari.

Watch out fellow Pakistanis: The hard-earned revival in Pakistan is under serious threat from yet another round of political anarchy! Pakistan lost the decade from 1988-1999 because of the political upheavels. Watch this video carefully. The fire will not be limited to Sindh.

 

[Blacklight]

@4.00
Purray Sindh ko kuttay kaat rahay hain


I listen to him often, this video is also bang on!