KARACHI, Former Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, has raised concerns over the continued delay in the release of funds for development schemes by the caretaker government, equating it to the penalization of the province’s populace.
According to Pakistan People’s Party, Shah voiced his concerns during a press conference at the Media Cell Bilawal House, flanked by his ex-provincial cabinet colleagues, including Syed Sardar Shah, Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz Shaikh, Gianchand Esrani, and Surendar Valasai. He illuminated the halted progress on development projects due to the non-disbursement of funds, highlighting the lack of justification for withholding funds from schemes already greenlit by the Sindh Assembly. “We had sanctioned 947 schemes for 2023-24, yet funds for critical areas like school education, irrigation, STEVTA, and energy projects haven’t seen a penny,” he remarked.
The ex-Chief Minister stressed that the 2023-24 provincial budget was predominantly earmarked for restoring flood-ravaged zones. The previous provincial government, under his leadership, had ensured all preparatory measures were completed before its term concluded to facilitate a seamless handover to the caretaker administration. “The caretaker’s primary role is routine operations. We entrusted them with Rs 112 billion,” Shah noted. He further commented that the Federal Board of Revenue’s claim of achieving its tax collection target suggests that the government is not financially constrained but lacks the intent to serve the citizenry.
Shah shed light on Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s endeavors, which, during his stint as Foreign Minister, secured over USD 2 billion from global stakeholders for rehabilitating flood victims and affected territories. “Funds surpassing $2 billion were obtained from institutions like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank,” Shah stated. He expressed concern that the stalling of development ventures is leading to a surge in commitment fees for funds garnered from international financial institutions, a burden unfairly borne by the province’s residents.
Asserting his party’s position, Shah voiced confidence in PPP’s prospects in the forthcoming general elections. “We’re poised not just to triumph in the polls but also to helm the federal government,” he claimed.
Shah also took a moment to express his unyielding solidarity with the denizens of Gaza and Occupied Kashmir. He vehemently denounced the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza and emphasized the urgency to halt the oppression unleashed on Palestine. Additionally, he spotlighted the ongoing injustices faced by the populace in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir (IIOK).