Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is all set to provide Rs 102.6 billion to MNAs, both from the treasury and opposition benches, under its Community Development Programme.

Sources said that this “political bribe” had been offered at a time when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was on the roads against the government. “The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is also planning to come out on streets. The National Assembly has 342 members and every MNA has been offered to submit details of development schemes worth Rs 30 million,” sources said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) sources told Daily Times that initially, it had been decided that only ruling party MNAs would be provided the funds. “However, now opposition MNAs have also been approached, especially PPP members. The government has asked them to submit their development schemes,” the source said.

“Each MNA will be offered Rs 30 million in schemes for his constituency. The development work will be monitored by the DCO, but the MNA concerned will be part of the committee which will be formed by the government to oversee the projects,” he said.

He said that some ‘favoruite’ PML-N MNAs would be getting 20 million for each union council in their constituencies. “They have been given special forms,” he said.

“PTI MNAs have yet to decide weather or not to accept the funds. However, PPP MNAs have agreed,” he said.

“Yes, we have devised a plan to carry out development work in constituencies, but we will first take the provinces into confidence. The consultation will be completed within a few days,” said Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad.

Aftab, who is the in-charge of the Community Development Programme, distributed forms among MNAs, asking them to provide lists of development projects.

He said that along with PML-N parliamentarians, opposition members had also been asked to come forward and submit proposals for development schemes.