Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh post budget 2016-17 debate continued under the chairmanship of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durani on Wednesday.

Senior Minister for Finance, Syed Murad Ali Shah, said during the budget session that he has complained WAPDA and HESCO against long hours of load shedding. Shah warned of a protest in Islamabad against federal government, WAPDA and Prime Minister House, if injustice continued of load shedding in Sindh. He said the Sindh province has capacity to produce electricity, but federal government created hindrance to the objectives of Sindh government adding that the acts of WAPDA would not be tolerated. The MPAs, Nisar Khuhro, Khuwaja Izharul Hassan, Ghulam Qadir Bhutto also spoke about 18 hours load shedding in the month of Ramazan. The HESCO however said it was generating much electricity to meet the demand of electricty.

The MPAs questioned that if there is sufficient electricity available in national grid system than why there is load shedding. Izhar said that a resolution in this regard should be passed against in this budget session. The Sindh Assembly speaker said, “I have also referred the issue and feedback but no response was made by the concerned authorities. Meanwhile, The Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members walked out of Sindh Assembly against the registration of FIR of Aminul Haq and later rejoined.

MPA Shehryar Mahar while criticizing the budget 2016-17 said that there is no betterment in the province adding that all schemes are fake and fabricated. He said ground reality is different from budget papers, as Mohenjo Daro streets are much clean than the streets of Larkana and Sukkur. He further said despite several initiatives taken by National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the performance of anti-corruption is still zero. Mahar condemned the failures of Sindh government and said that the situation is worst in Sindh government departments.

MPA Khalid Ahmed said that Sindh government demands NFC share and funds were not released for Karachi schemes, as the budget of Karachi was utilised in other areas. He also disclosed that an old scheme of Shaheen Complex Flyover in Karachi revised as new scheme. MPA Mehtab Akber Rashdi highlighted about the Keenjhar and other schemes carried out in past and current fiscal year budget and termed it as lack of vision and improper planning of Sindh Finance Department in the making of budget and its utilisation. She said Sindh finance minister and his team never analysed budget under SWOT strategy adding that they have no idea about the utilisations of funds for various schemes. She showed concern over new constructions of 100 comprehensive schools in Sindh and seven new colleges, while such schemes are still running since 2008 to 2016.

Later, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durani adjourned the post budget session till today (Thursday).