Punjab Govt. has presented "Shahbaz Dost " budget: PML Punjab Parliamentary Party

Lahore (June 11, 2012) Under instructions of senior central leader Ch Parvez Elahi, special meeting of Pakistan Muslim League Punjab Parliamentary Party was held in a local hotel which discussed in detail the Punjab Budget for 2012-13 at length and described the 5th budget of the present rulers as a document of contradiction of sayings and actions. Addressing the meeting, PML Punjab Parliamentary Party leader Ch Zaheeruddin Khan, Federal Advisor for Industries Muhammad Basharat Raja and Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that the Punjab Govt has presented not "awam dost" but "Shahbaz Dost" budget. They said that by closing down pro- people development projects of Ch Parvez Elahi, irraparable loss has been caused to the province and its people.

The PML leaders said that those who are ruling Punjab with 95 per cent financial assistance of the Federal Government are playing the blame game in order to cover up their failures of last four years. Chairman Policy Working Group Rizwan Mumtaz Ali gave detailed brief to the members of the Parliamentary Party regarding the peoples welfare oriented projects and billions of rupees of foreign investment the Shahbaz Sharif Government had stopped on coming into power.

Ch Zaheeruddin Khan said that every year, 40per cent less utilization of development funds and 40 per cent less revenue collection is sad reflection on inefficiency of the present govt. He said instead of spending whatever resources are available on health, education and poverty alleviation, these resources were wasted on flop dramas like Daanish Schools, Lap tops, Sasti Roti, Food Support and Green Tractor Schemes.

Federal Advisor on Industries Muhammad Basharat Raja said that difference between the governance of Ch Parvez Elahi and Mian Shahbaz Sharif has been fully exposed. He said Ch Parvez Elahi had left Rs 100 billion surplus province which is now under heavy debt.

He said despite adoption of resolutions, no allocations have been provided in the budget for new provinces of South Ounjab and Bahawalpur and holding of local bodies election adding that this is nothing but contradiction in the sayings and actions of the present rulers. He said that out of Rs 782 billion budget, as much as Rs 710 billion are to be provided in one form or other by the Federal Govt and allegation of discrimination with Punjab is merely a false propaganda.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that even the budget even for the fifth year has been made on the expectations and hopes of share in the divisible pool of resources, overdraft and domestic and foreign loans. He said that just prior to the budget, securing of over draft of Rs 15 billion and loan of Rs 11 billion is an open negation of tall claims of the Chief Minister of not relying on foreign assistance.

The meeting was also addressed by Aamer Sultan Cheema, Col (R) Muhammad Abbas, Sameena Khawar Hayat, Seemal Kamran, Majida Zaidi, Dr Samia Amjad, Khadeeja Umar Farooqi, Dr Faiza Asghar, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhery, Engineer Shahzad Elahi, Syeda Bushra Nawaz Gardezi, Munawwar Manj, Syed Shakir Hussain Shah among others and strategy was evolved regarding general discussion on the new provincial budget.