NA approves Rs0.141 trillion for cabinet division

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Saturday approved 20 demands for grants of worth Rs. 0.141 trillion for the Cabinet

Division with majority of votes while rejecting 144 cut motion presented by the Opposition.

Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh presented the demands of Cabinet Division in the House Opening the debate on cut motions, PML-N Central leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi alleged that Cabinet Division was not working properly under rules and regulations.

He said that sufferings of people have increased manifold due to poor performance of the division.

He criticized Capital Development Authority (CDA) for becoming the den of corruption and suggested that a high powered committee should be formed to look into its affairs.

He said that contracts were being awarded to blue-eyed people by violating the rules and regulations while the authority was bringing not only bad name to the government but was a burden on national exchequer.

PML-N lawmaker, Zahid Hamid suggested for taking austerity to bring back country's economy towards sustainability and demanded the government to ensure immediate passage of National Accountability Commission Bill to help control corruption in the country.

PML-N lawmaker Shahid Khakan Abbasi said that it was ironic that the government has allocated Rs.98 million for purchasing helicopters while a meager amount of 0.4 million has been earmarked for making Urdu an official language.

He said that Rs.220 million have been allocated for the maintenance of the parliament building whereas just Rs.156 million was allocated for Board of Investment. Similarly instead of constructing additional parliament lodges, the government should spend the amount for constructing offices for parliamentary members.

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening Federal Public Service Commission to ensure induction of quality workforce, however deplored that the allocations for this commission have been reduced by 40 per cent.

Shreen Arshad of PML-N said stressed the need for taking austerity measures in the cabinet division, saying that despite huge allocations the performance of the water and power division and interior division was poor.

She demanded formation of a commission to probe Nawab Akbar Bugti's death besides taking measures to control smuggling through the Afghan Transit Trade.

Abdul Qadir Baloch said that funding for any division or department should be linked with the output performance. He said that funds have been allocated for National Accountability Bureau which has given no output for last couple of years.

Anusha Rehman Advocate said that it is not known whether NAB is working under the Cabinet Division or under Ministry of Law and Justice.

She said that the Auditor General has pointed out embezzlement of Rs.35 billion by government functionaries.

She said that since the technical education was now provincial subject, so allocations for NEVTEC should be cut. Saira Afzal Tarar stressed the need for checking corruption, particularly in the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

She said that Rs.6 billion has been collected in the Prime Minister's flood relief account and there is no clue where this amount has gone.

Tahira Aurangzeb stressed the need for accountability whereas Parveen Masood Bhatti, pointed various irregularities and maladministration of CDA.

PML-N Raja Asad Khan said that instead of spending money on luxuries, there is need of uplifting the living standard of those who are living below the poverty line. He said that instead spending huge amounts as ERRAs operational costs, people should be approached directly to provide them relief.

Nuzhat Sadiq demanded setting up of a a commission to prove into the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. She said that Haqooq-e-Balochistan was not implemented in true.

Khalida Manoor she said more than 40 percent of country's population has gone down the poverty line and asked for cut down government expenditures to provide relief to the poor.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011