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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Spending on water projects to fall short of target
Listen to article The government is expected to widely miss the target for fund utilisation on water sector projects in the outgoing fiscal year 2024-25. An amount of Rs142.6 billion had been allocated for water projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY25. The estimated expenditure by the end of May was Rs79.4 billion, revealed the Annual Plan 2025-26 while reviewing the performance in FY25. In view of the strategic importance of the water sector, the FY25 development programme comprised 59 projects with total approved cost of Rs2,298.3 billion. Despite various challenges in the way of implementation, efforts were made to accelerate the water sector programme. By the end of June 2025, out of the 59 projects, 23 schemes worth Rs163.5 billion are expected to be completed or closed. These include 10 projects in Balochistan, six in Sindh (canals, small dams and drainage), four in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), two in Punjab and one scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources. Work is progressing on Mohmand Dam, having power generation capacity of 800 megawatts, water storage capacity of 0.676 million acre feet (MAF) and 18,233 acres of command area, and on Diamer Bhasha Dam (4,500 MW of electricity and 6.4 MAF of water storage). The Annual Plan FY26 is aligned with the National Water Policy (2018), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Uraan Pakistan, where the government is targeting several megaprojects for enhancing the country's water storage capacity. Out of the total allocation of Rs133.424 billion for the Water Resources Division, the share of water sector development programme is Rs101.979 billion. Of this amount, Rs79.6 billion has been earmarked for the construction of large, medium and small dams including Rs68.5 billion for two megaprojects – Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams. Apart from that, work on Nai Gaj Dam costing Rs47 billion will be expedited with the allocation of Rs500 million. The project is aimed at developing the command area of about 28,800 acres in Dadu district of Sindh. Similarly, Rs300 million has been allocated to Naulong Multipurpose Dam for the development of 47,000 acres of command area in Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan. To irrigate 286,100 acres of land in K-P, the Chashma Right Bank Canal (Lift-cum-Gravity Canal) project is being initiated with an allocation of Rs100 million for FY26. Total cost of the project is Rs189.606 billion. To meet water demand in the metropolitan city of Karachi, the K-IV project will be given priority for timely completion. It has been given Rs3.209 billion for FY26. To ensure the availability of water to Karachi through the Greater Bulk Water Supply (K-IV) project, the implementation of a scheme titled "Water Requirement for K-IV Project – Improvement of Kalri Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake – Plain Cement Concrete Lining of Kalri Baghar Feeder Upper Phase-I" costing Rs39.943 billion (with 50% PSDP share of Rs19.971 billion) will be expedited. For this, Rs10 billion has been set aside. An amount of Rs1.875 billion has been allocated for remodeling the pat feeder canal system in Balochistan district of Naseerabad. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) had approved the project on July 27, 2023 at a cost of Rs61.793 billion. The project is envisaged to provide due share of the province under the Water Apportionment Accord 1991. The Kachhi Canal Project (remaining works), Dera Bugti district, Balochistan is nearing completion, after which the irrigated command area will be increased from 72,000 acres to 102,000 acres. An amount of Rs100 million has been allocated for the project. The Kachhi Canal – Restoration of Flood Damages 2022 Project is aimed at restoring irrigation water supply to Dera Bugti, which had been affected due to the damage caused by 2022 floods. In FY26, Rs698.1 million has been allocated for the project.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pandemonium in Sindh PA as PPP, MQM MPAs trade allegations
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly descended into chaos on Monday after a verbal clash broke out between members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), following allegations of nepotism levelled by MQM-P MPA Adil Askari against Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Tensions flared when Askari, addressing the House, accused the Chief Minister of breaching good governance principles by appointing his brother-in-law as the Chief Secretary of Sindh. 'Murad Ali Shah is the Chief Minister of the province, and his brother-in-law is appointed as the Chief Secretary — this is clearly nepotism,' said Askari, triggering uproar from PPP benches. PPP's senior member Mukesh Kumar Chawla objected strongly to the statement, urging the acting speaker to expunge the Chief Minister's name from the proceedings. 'Such statements are not only provocative but unnecessary,' he asserted. As tempers rose, members of both parties stood up from their seats, exchanging sharp words and accusations, forcing the acting speaker to intervene. 'Do not address each other directly. Respect the sanctity of the House,' he warned, attempting to calm the heated atmosphere. The situation further deteriorated when another MQM member responded to PPP's Farooq Awan, referencing his past in the Sindh Police and questioning his silence during the early days of MQM's founder. 'If the MQM founder was a devil, as you claim, you should have shown courage back then instead of condemning him now when his politics has ended,' he remarked, adding fuel to an already combustible session. The confrontation overshadowed what was meant to be the start of a multi-day general debate on the provincial budget for fiscal year 2025–26. Earlier in the day, members from both treasury and opposition benches engaged in budget discussions, though political rivalries and deep-rooted grievances quickly dominated the session. Jamal Ahmed Khan of MQM highlighted critical civic issues in North Nazimabad, noting severe water shortages and dysfunctional waste management. He criticized the Karachi Mayor's claims about street cleaning. He also lamented that development schemes proposed by MQM had been discarded entirely from the budget. On the government's side, PPP's Shazia Kareem criticised the federal government for neglecting Sindh in the national budget, citing the exclusion of significant infrastructure projects like the Karachi and Hyderabad Motorways and the K-IV water supply scheme. 'Has Sindh become a slave of the federation,' she asked, further alleging that PWD schemes had been arbitrarily placed under federal control. Ejaz Shah Bukhari, another PPP lawmaker, invoked Karachi's past bloodshed, arguing that the PPP's dedication to public service had earned it a place in the people's hearts. He criticised the continuation of long power outages in Sindh and demanded the elevation of Tando Muhammad Khan Hospital to a district-level facility, as well as, the provision of a fire brigade to the local municipal committee. MQM's Abdullah Sheikh urged lawmakers not to incite ethnic tensions, referencing extortion-related violence in Surjani Town and warning against demonizing the Muhajir community. 'We have seen everything in Karachi,' he said, calling for calm and fair representation. PPP MPA Maliha Manzoor defended the budget, calling it a reflection of the party leadership's people-centric vision. She praised initiatives like the Sindh People's Housing Scheme, women's property rights for flood victims, and new public transport measures such as pink buses, electric scooters, and EV taxis. 'We are proud of the Sindh government,' she stated. On the opposition benches, MQM's Farah Sohail condemned the budget as 'anti-people,' arguing that even after 17 years in power, the PPP had failed to deliver. 'They boast about achievements in healthcare, but one of their own lawmakers took Rs 70 million from the government to seek treatment abroad,' she alleged. Ejaz-ul-Haq from MQM questioned the credibility of the PPP's development claims, saying, 'It feels like we're living in Japan — why don't we see any of this progress in Karachi?' He said there was nothing allocated for Orangi Town and repeated his long-standing demand for establishing a trauma centre at Qatar Hospital Orangi. PPP MPA Nuzhat Pathan said the federal government had completely sidelined Sindh, but despite that, a 'strong and balanced' provincial budget had been delivered — crediting the PPP leadership. She highlighted dysfunctional water services in Hyderabad and criticized WASA's poor performance. In a pointed remark, she claimed MQM had self-destructed. 'We are not eliminating them; they have already eliminated themselves,' she said. Another PPP lawmaker, Farzana Baloch, emphasised that the party's vote bank was growing steadily, which she saw as a sign of public confidence. She slammed K-Electric's over-billing practices, pointing out widespread illegal electricity connections in Karachi. 'People who pay are punished, those who don't are untouched. K-Electric has made life miserable. Whether acknowledged or not, PPP continues to serve.' From the PTI benches, Muhammad Owais criticised the arrest of his party's MPAs and workers during a recent youth rally, calling it political victimization. He also decried the exclusion of all opposition proposals from the budget and held the Sindh government responsible for K-Electric's ongoing failures. Despite repeated attempts by Acting Speaker Anthony Naveed to restore decorum, the session remained turbulent, reflecting the widening political chasm in the province. The assembly was ultimately adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, leaving behind a day marked more by confrontation than consensus. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Uproar in PA over provincial budget 2025-26
The discussion on the provincial budget for 2025-26 commenced in the Sindh Assembly on Monday with several members from government as well as opposition benches voicing contrasting views. The session, with Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony in the chair, saw mixed reaction as government members hailed the budget as a people-centric, while opposition members termed it as anti-poor and away from ground realities. Opening the debate, MQM-P's Jamal Ahmed Khan highlighted the problems in his constituency, saying that people in North Nazimabad were struggling for water. He said, the solid waste management system was dysfunctional, and trash remained uncollected for three days, negates city mayor's commitment of cleaning all areas and roads. Jamal questioned, which roads and areas he is talking about? PPP's Shazia Karim accused the federal government of discriminatory treatment towards Sindh. She criticised the exclusion of key projects including the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and the K-IV water project. She questioned, "Is Sindh a slave to the federation?" PPP's Ijaz Shah Bukhari said the people had not forgotten the days of bodies found in gunny bags in Karachi, asserting that the PPP had always stood by the public. He criticised the federal government's neglectful attitude toward Sindh, pointing out the ongoing 16-hour power outages in the province. He called for upgrading the Tando Muhammad Khan Hospital to the district level, increasing its budget, and providing a fire brigade for the local municipal committee. MQM-P's Abdullah Sheikh warned against maligning the Mohajir community through 'baseless allegations', while raising pointed questions about Zulfiqar Mirza from the gang war era. He mentioned an incident in Surjani Town where one person lost his life after receiving an extortion note. PPP's Maliha Manzoor defended saying, the budget was people-friendly. "Women flood victims will receive property rights. Pink buses are already operating in Karachi, and we plan to introduce EV taxis and scooters," she said. MQM-P's Farah Sohail slammed the budget as anti-people, saying the Sindh government continued the 17-year trend of ignoring public needs. She question, where the PPP's 'Roti, Kapra aur Makaan' has gone. She claimed that development funds were slashed and projects left uninitiated. She also criticised the government's health sector performance, pointing out that an assembly member was set to receive Rs70 million in public funds for medical treatment abroad. Ijaz Haq of MQM-P criticised the lack of budget allocations for Orangi Town and the continued neglect of the Qatar Hospital trauma centre. PPP's Nuzhat Pathan said, despite the federal government's neglect, Sindh has managed to present a better budget. PPP's MPA Farzana Baloch raised the issue of K-Electric's overbilling and its impact on Karachi's residents. "Those who pay are punished, while defaulters go unchecked," she remarked. PTI's Muhammad Owais condemned the recent arrests of party workers and MPAs, including former opposition leaders, during a youth wing rally. He criticised the PPP for ignoring opposition recommendations in the budget and failing to manage K-Electric's performance. MQM-P's Adil Askari accused Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of nepotism and objected to the appointment of his brother-in-law as chief secretary which is against the principles of good governance. His comments drew strong backlash from PPP members. His remarks angered PPP members, leading to an uproar in the House. PPP MPA, Mukesh Chawla strongly objected to the speech and demanded that the chief minister's name be removed from the record, calling the statement 'unnecessary and inflammatory'. Following the objections, members from both parties stood up and exchanged harsh words, further escalating the tension. The session descended into chaos, prompting the acting speaker to intervene. The acting speaker urged the lawmakers, saying, "Please refrain from directly addressing each other. Maintain the dignity of the House." The situation intensified further when another MQM-P member addressed PPP's Farooq Awan, saying, "If, as you say, the MQM founder was a devil, you were probably an inspector in the Sindh Police back then. If you had the courage, you should have spoken up at the time. Now that his politics are over, there's no point in cursing him." Following the debate, the Assembly was adjourned until 10am on Tuesday. The debate is expected to continue over the next several days.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Karachi: business community leaders say federal, Sindh budgets are ‘discriminatory'
KARACHI: Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala and President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Muhammad Jawed Bilwani have strongly condemned the federal and Sindh budgets, describing them as deeply disappointing and discriminatory towards Karachi, the country's economic nerve centre. In a joint statement, they expressed serious concerns over the sheer neglect and repeated denial of essential development funds to Sindh including Karachi at large. They particularly highlighted the gross under-funding of the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, a strategic infrastructure project vital for the economic connectivity of Sindh and Karachi. Despite the project's total cost exceeding Rs400 billion, the federal budget allocates a meagre Rs15 billion. This lacklustre allocation reflects a blatant disregard for Sindh's development priorities, especially considering that Karachi, Pakistan's commercial capital, would directly benefit from the completion of this motorway. Similarly, they drew attention to the K-IV Water Supply Project, which has been in limbo for years despite being a critical lifeline for water-starved Karachi. Despite multiple promises made at the highest level, including by the Prime Minister himself, the federal government has once again failed to demonstrate commitment to the project, allocating only Rs3.2 billion out of the total required Rs150 billion. This allocation, they noted, is not only insufficient but also raises doubts about the government's sincerity in addressing Karachi's water crisis. KCCI leaders further expressed their dismay after reviewing the Sindh budget 2025–26, noting that the provincial government, too, has failed to do justice to Karachi's needs. In the provincial development outlay, the Sindh Government has allocated a meagre Rs100 million for the K-IV project and a symbolic Rs15 billion for the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway. What's even more alarming is that this marks the third consecutive year in which not a single new mega development project has been announced for Karachi. The only gesture made was the allocation of Rs8 billion for the continuation of previously announced mega projects, most of which have been progressing at a snail's pace. They said that it was a matter of grave concern that the K-IV project, despite being a vital lifeline for Karachi, continues to face inexcusable delays, even as the megacity's demand for water grows exponentially with each passing day. Shockingly, millions of gallons of water are being wasted and discharged into the sea, while the people of Karachi and its industrial zones remain parched and desperate for a sustainable water supply. While appreciating the ongoing development of the new canal from Hub Dam, KCCI leaders noted that the project was originally scheduled for completion by August. With barely two months remaining, it is imperative that the government accelerates work on a war footing to ensure its timely execution. They further recalled that an additional supply of 10 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) was promised for the SITE Industrial Area, and the relevant PC-I had already been approved— a move widely welcomed by the business community. However, the promised supply remains unfulfilled, leaving industries in a continued state of uncertainty. They emphasized that such chronic underinvestment and budgetary tokenism towards Karachi will only deepen the city's infrastructure decay, worsen civic conditions, and erode business confidence. They stressed that the continuous denial of fair development funding for Karachi is not just a regional injustice but a national threat, as Karachi contributes the largest share of 67 percent revenue to the national exchequer, 90 percent to provincial kitty and 54 percent in terms of exports. They called on both the federal and provincial governments to urgently revise their priorities and ensure that Karachi receives its fair share of development funding. The time for symbolic allocations and broken promises has long passed. Concrete action, substantial funding, and political will are now required to address the growing frustration of the citizens and business community of Karachi. The prosperity of Pakistan is inextricably linked with the prosperity of Karachi, they said, adding that neglecting the megacity is akin to sabotaging the national economy. They demanded that before the approval of the federal and Sindh budgets, necessary amendments be made by significantly enhancing allocations for Karachi-centric development projects. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Budget: JI assails govt for ‘neglecting' Karachi
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar Khan has strongly criticised the budget 2025-26, claiming it demonstrated a clear neglect of Karachi — the economic hub of the country. Speaking at a press conference held at Idara Noor-e-Haq, he said that Karachi was conspicuously missing from the list of federal priorities. Flanked by several town chairmen, Monem Zafar Khan demanded an allocation of Rs 500 billion for Karachi's development, along with Rs 2 billion for each town and Rs 2.5 million for every Union Council (UC), in order to address the city's pressing issues. Highlighting the severe water crisis in Karachi, he said the K-IV water supply project — vital for the city's future — appears to have been sidelined by the federal government. Although Rs 40 billion were requested, the budget allocates just Rs 3.2 billion for the project, despite its scheduled completion by June 2026. He pointed out that while the Water Resources Division was allocated Rs 133 billion, the K-IV project's share amounts to only 2.5 percent of that total. The JI Karachi chief denounced the federal budget as a 'jigsaw puzzle of statistics' that ignores the city's core issues. He noted that the Karachi IT Park, launched in 2022 and expected to complete by 2026, received only Rs6 billion — a figure he described as 'peanuts' in relation to the scale and importance of the project. He further criticised the reduction in the Higher Education Commission's budget from Rs 65 billion to Rs 39.5 billion, and condemned the 18 percent tax imposed on the solar energy sector, calling it a severe blow to an emerging industry. Monem Zafar Khan lambasted the federal government for failing to complete several critical transport projects in the city, including the Green Line Bus, 20-bus Orange Line, and the Red Line. He stressed that Karachi has long been deprived of its fair share in resources, despite being the financial lifeline of Pakistan. Referring to historical trends, he said that while Sindh received Rs 178 billion from the federal government in 2007-08, the allocation has now increased to Rs 1,853 billion. Yet, the provincial government continues to centralise power, ignoring the urgent need for administrative and fiscal devolution. Monem Zafar Khan also turned his attention to what he described as rampant corruption and poor governance in solid waste management, particularly under the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He accused the Sindh government of outsourcing Karachi's waste management to inefficient and corrupt contractors, leading to severe issues during Eid-ul-Azha. He shared specific examples, including the case of a JI-run town that submitted its Eid waste management plan well in advance. The Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) responded only two days before Eid, disregarding all local recommendations and issuing outdated instructions. In another case, while the SWMB committed to sending 15 pickup vehicles, only 10 were dispatched on the day — raising questions about the misuse of funds allocated for vehicles, staff, and fuel. The JI leader also narrated an incident where a town chairman lodged a complaint with the mayor about waste management failures. Instead of holding the contractor accountable, the mayor suspended the town's Deputy Director of Solid Waste, he said. In a scathing indictment, Monem Zafar Khan also accused the MQM, PPP, and PML-N of complicity in a 'fake census', which, according to him, cut Karachi's population in half. This undercounting, he said, has serious consequences for resource allocation and representation. He also highlighted the disparity between the government's treatment of the poor and lawmakers. 'On one hand, 100 million Pakistanis live below the poverty line. On the other, the government has approved a six hundred percent increase in the speaker's allowances and over 140 percent salary hikes for lawmakers,' he stated. Monem Zafar Khan urged the federal government to revise its approach and recognise Karachi's pivotal role in the national economy. He called for transparent governance, fair distribution of resources, and greater autonomy for local administrations to ensure the city's problems are addressed effectively. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
