Sindh’s Provincial Minister for Planning and Development and Irrigation, Jam Khan Shoro, today expressed serious concerns over the apparent mismanagement of federal funds purportedly allocated for development in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting with Planning and Development Department officials, Shoro highlighted the perplexing disappearance of Rs. 20 to 25 billion designated for regional enhancement, with no evident accountability or trace of expenditure.
Addressing the media alongside Chairman Planning and Development Najam Shah at the Sindh Secretariat, Minister Shoro emphasized the provincial leadership”s commitment to the timely completion of over 3,600 ongoing schemes, particularly prioritizing initiatives within the Karachi division. He underscored the government”s allocation of Rs. 400 billion specifically for water projects, including the ambitious K-IV project, aimed at alleviating Karachi”s water woes.
Shoro criticized the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation Limited (PIDCL) for overstepping its intended mandate, asserting that provincial autonomy must remain sacrosanct. Highlighting a decision by the National Economic Council (NEC), he affirmed that projects of a provincial nature should be managed by respective regional administrations. The minister welcomed federal involvement in infrastructure development, provided it adheres to established protocols requiring local council permissions, much like the procedures followed by Sui Gas.
In a pointed remark, Shoro condemned the lack of transparency surrounding funds distributed to MNAs during the previous administration under Imran Khan, indicating that the utilization of these resources remains largely unaccounted for. He expressed the Sindh government”s firm stance against such financial ambiguities, advocating for stringent oversight.
Addressing Karachi”s infrastructural challenges, Shoro cited the protracted efforts to realign utility lines on Tariq Road and the urgent reconstruction of University Road as examples of the hurdles faced. He lamented the political interference that derailed the K-IV water project, inflating its cost from an initial Rs. 27 billion to a staggering Rs. 200 billion. Nonetheless, the minister reassured the public of the provincial government”s dedication to resolving the city”s severe transport issues through the development of a major mass transit system and future expansions of the Karachi Circular Railway.
In conclusion, the Sindh government is steadfast in its endeavor to ensure that development funds are judiciously managed and transparently accounted for, as it seeks to deliver essential infrastructure improvements for the benefit of Karachi”s residents.