Daily Times

KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Syed Mustafa Kamal called for devolution of powers and funds to the lower levels at a press conference held at Pakistan House on Monday.

Kamal said that there used to be big claims about National Finance Commission (NFC) award but no practical work could be done for it at the provincial level. Instead after the NFC award, problems of the people have worsened, he added. “Have the problems of the people of Pakistan been solved through the 18th amendment and the NFC award? You will not be able to solve the problems of the common man until and unless you devolve powers to the district-level,” he said.  He also said that a handful of people were in charge of the fates of millions.

Talking about Sindh budget, he said, “It is a budget of more than Rs 800 billion. How can that money be distributed by a few chosen ministers?” He said that funds released by the government in the budget were for the people of Pakistan and called for accountability of the money that had been promised in the budget. “This money should be spent in a democratic manner and it should be spent by those who have been elected by the people of Pakistan,” he added. Kamal suggested the formation of provincial finance commissions to solve the people’s problems and urged Sindh government to provide their full cooperation in this regard.  Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Ashfaq Mangi were also present at the press conference.