This refers to the news story published in on March 10, 2014 about Gadani Power Park. During the course of meeting, Finance Minister emphasized that as this was a flagship project of the PML-N Government therefore, it should be fast tracked. It is very unfortunate to observe that the present government is according top priority to projects which are their own rather than those that are needed.
The classic example of this bad strategy practiced by the previous as well as present governments is not releasing funds to Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. The ex-Prime Minister had transferred funds from this project to development funs of his personal constituency, to influence the election campaign (and he still lost). The present government should have released about 70% of allocated budget of Rs. 24 billion nearly nine months ago. Moreover, there is no justification to delay the payment after the provision of US$17 million out of a $448 million loan by China’s Export Import Bank (EXIM) for this project on January 27, 2014.
Is this what should be deemed as a classical example of good governance? No one can imagine the economic suffering of the families of contractors, suppliers and workers who have not been paid for over two years. Therefore, I appeal to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to treat all projects on merit as flagships of Pakistan irrespective of who started and take the pride for early completion and their best utilization to serve people of Pakistan.
M M HUSSAIN,
Lahore, March 11.