PESHAWAR: The opposition as well ruling party women councilors of District Council Peshawar have expressed grave concerns over non-provision of developmental funds for women schemes. The District Council Peshawar consist of 32 women members of different political parties who were elected district members on reserved seats in District Council Peshawar.
“Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) led-coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is ignoring the women district members. The women members have not initiated a single project for women development in their respective areas”, said Mehreen Bibi, a district member of ANP in District Council Peshawar.
Talking to this scribe she informed that she had also not received any developmental funds for women empowerment since she was elected as member of District Council Peshawar. She said that she was helpless and could not inaugurate a single project for women development and betterment in her Union Council until she has funds.
The ANP women member had grievances and said that the district members belonging to the ruling PTI party could initiate projects for the women social welfare with the support and financial assistance of MPAs and projects kicked off by welfare organizations motivated by the KP Government.
Similarly, she said that the opposition women members in the local government did not have such opportunities to take initiative in their respective UCs. She maintained that the women members hailing from different areas of provincial capital on their reserved seats were willing and had various plans for the women empowerment and development in the male dominated society.
“After becoming member and legislature of District Council Peshawar, I had proposed many developmental schemes and presented to the local government administration. The proposed schemes consists on provision of basic facilities to those schools which lack behind, opening of centers for drug addicts, install of water coolers and panel systems in different schools and other such project but the local administration is least bothered in this regard”, Mehreen Bibi, informed. She revealed that all her schemes presented to the administration were set aside and told her that the local government department had no funds.
Asia Khattak, also a member District Council Peshawarfrom the ruling PTI while talking to Daily Times said that after the opposition parties approached the high court over budget, the funds allocated for members in fiscal budget still could not release.
For every member either males or females funds amounting Rs3.33 million were allocated to carry out healthy activities in diverse sectors in their respective union councils. Rs1.5 million allocated for social welfare and women empowerment activities, one million rupees for education facilities and Rs0.8 million for discretionary but the no members have received the mentioned funds so far.
She informed that last year in 2015, a total of Rs2.5 million had been allocated for every member for developmental works in their respective areas. The KP Government, she maintained that later had not released the said amount to the district members.
“As member of the District Council Peshawar, I have also suggested few development schemes including education facilities and other to initiate in my union council but I am helpless to start it without funds”, she said.
Saleema Ikram, a member District Council PeshawarPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from UC81 PK-6 in this regard said that the funds which allocated for district members in the current fiscal year were insufficient and next to nil to meet the basic requirement of the common people as masses of her area and specially women had great expectations from her as a district member.
However, when the District Peshawar Nazim Arbab Asim Khan contacted in this regard his cellphone was constantly busy and also not attended call after dialing his mobile number for several times.