Balochistan Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah dismissed the outcry by the opposition members regarding non allocation of schemes in their respective constituencies saying "it was always the prerogative of the ruling party to decide the same." He was addressing a post budget press conference here, on Thursday at a local hotel.
He said that the opposition members were misguiding their voters and making false statement that no schemes were allocated to them.
Rupees five million were being given to them in every financial year and thus their share was protected, he said adding that so far special development schemes are concerned the ruling party and cabinet to take decisions about such schemes, he said. He asked them to join the treasury benches and cabinet.
Earlier, to a question he negated the impression given by the opposition members and said that every member had got schemes for their respective constituencies.
He, however, parried a question as to number of such members of opposition, who have been accommodated in the PSDP. Equal funds could not be allocated to all members and all districts.
The funds were allocated considering different factors like population, state of development etc, he said adding that all complaints by opposition members and angry treasury members are of "personal nature."
To a question about revenue and income to support ambitious projects like free education upto intermediate level, he said that provincial government hopes additional revenue of rupees 40 million from GST.
Dilating upon agriculture development schemes, he said that a comprehensive policy would be announced soon. "We would be concentrating on corporate financing during the next fiscal year," he said.
To a question about property rights to the encroachers of government lands, he said that people living in katchi abadisi since ages and could not be dislodged. A committee would be formed to decide the issue, he said.
Replying to another question, he admitted that 45 percent of the next fiscal budget goes to communication sector. Defending such a huge allocation for the construction of roads, he said that two years back even districts were not connected with pucca roads and still some districts are to be connected through metal roads.
Referring to the planning for development of livestock sector, Finance Minister Balochistan said that besides appointments of 300 veterinary doctors, herder living in mountainous area would be approached through district councils for teaching modern methods of rearing herds.
New species of animals would be imported and provided free of cost to the dairy farmers so that a new breed emerges in the next few years, Syed Ehsan Shah said.
To another question, he said that during the current fiscal year record number of universities was either established or allowed to open as government eyes high literacy rate and to end deficiency of teaching staff at all levels in all districts of the province.
Responding to a question about foreign assistance, he said Balochistan was to receive 120 million dollar from Asian Development Bank (ADB) out of which first tranche of 60 million dollar has been disbursed while remaining would be received after fulfilling conditionalities.
When asked about the nature of conditions attached with the assistance, he simply stated that "conditions were all beneficial for the province."
When asked to give comparative figures of assistance received from federal government during the previous two decades, he parried the question stating that amount of assistance and projects undertaken during present government outweighs all development work in previous two decades.
About laying off of loans taken by the Balochistan government, he said that all the four provinces had made an identical request or in the alternative sought permission to take loans at low interest rates for paying the outstanding loans which carry an interest rate of 17-18 percent. About lapse of 7,500 posts during the current fiscal years, he said that posts could not be filled due to administrative and financial issues.
In response to a question about the NFC award, he said that claims and counter claims are yet to be established and sorted out, however Balochistan government has an unflinching confidence upon President General Pervez Musharraf and strongly believes that the NFC award would strengthen the fiscal position of the province.
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