• PM says that previous governments ignored the development of the province
• Federal ministers blame the provincial government for food inflation
• PPP spokesperson says Sindh is the only province which provides free treatment for cancer, heart and kidney diseases
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday criticized the Sindh government for ‘poor governance’, with ministers blaming it for food inflation in the country, as Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed that the Center was under construction for the Rs 444 billion Sindh development plan. Under this will uplift 14 districts.
Food Security Minister Khusro Bakhtiyar said Sindh is a hub of fertilizer hoarders, while Minister of State for Information Farooq Habib and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar in a press conference condemned the food inflation of the Sindh government.
However, the Pakistan People’s Party, which governs Sindh, criticized the federal government for criticizing the provincial government.
Presiding over a meeting to review the implementation of the development plan, the Prime Minister said that the federal government would give priority to the upliftment of 14 districts of Sindh.
Federal Ministers Dr. Fahmida Mirza, Asad Umar, Hammad Azhar and senior officials attended the meeting.
Mr Khan said that the aim is to improve the socio-economic condition of the residents of the province. He directed that the less developed and rural areas of Sindh should be given priority to ensure prosperity. He regretted that the previous governments had neglected the development of Sindh.
Calling for transparency, quality of work and adherence to deadlines while implementing the development plan, the PM urged the departments concerned to expedite work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway and sports complexes at Badin, Ghotki, Thar, Mirpurkhas, Tando Mohd. asked to build. Khan, Hyderabad and Sanghar.
The development plan includes projects related to roads and motorways, housing, information technology and telecommunications, water resources, health, higher education, vocational training, disaster management, railways, setting up of energy and sports facilities.
The meeting was informed that the Sindh Development Plan includes 48 Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) projects, 50 non-PSDP projects and seven public-private partnership projects.
The government approved 26 new PSDP projects and allocated financial resources for the financial year 2021-22. The Planning Commission had authorized Rs 16.304 billion for eight federal government departments and organizations.
Meanwhile, the state information minister blamed the Sindh government for the rise in food inflation in the country, alleging that “the Sindh government has left the people of the province at the mercy of the mafia”.
He said that when the price of sugar went up to Rs 150 per kg, the Sindh government stopped supplying sugarcane to the mills and subsequently prevented the stock of sugar from reaching the markets. He said prices of food and grocery items are still high in Sindh as compared to other provinces.
Responding to the criticism, PPP spokesman Faisal Karim Kundi wondered: “Why does Imran Khan worry so much about Sindh?”
He claimed that Sindh is the only province where cancer, heart disease, liver and kidney ailments are being treated free of cost.
Mr. Kundi said that the country’s largest trauma center is also functioning in Sindh. He questioned, “If nothing is being done in Sindh, then why do people from across the country go to Sindh for free treatment?”
Published in Dawn, November 27, 2021