Balochistan wastes Rs50 billion

The bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption in a backward province like Balochistan, which is facing an insurgency like situation, where the people are poorest of the poor and where the most fundamental needs of life like drinking water are not available, must be regarded as a criminal act of the worst order. Absence of socio-economic development in this province has always been attributed to the federal government. However, all members of a sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs must have received a shock of their life when the Planning Commission apprised them that none of the 32 federal-funded development projects worth Rs60 billion initiated in Balochistan over the past 10 years could be completed so far despite disbursement of over Rs50 billion, 80 per cent of the allocated funds. The Pat Feeder Water Sector Project, strengthening of Kirthar Canal’s embankments and development of check dams to prevent flooding by hill torrents of Marri-Bugti area, commencement of academic activity at a technical college in Gwadar, fencing of the Gwadar airport and water management scheme for Quetta are some of the projects. Pat Feeder and Kirthar Canal schemes were initiated 15 years ago and they are deplorably nowhere near completion. Similarly, the college in Gwadar was completed by the federal government a couple of years ago but the provincial authorities did not develop access roads and related facilities, nor appointed teachers, and the building was now decaying. The report proved to be too obnoxiously revealing to make senators from Balochistan remark that the provincial bureaucracy and leadership had played a role in forcing people to take up guns and move to mountains. Senator Sardar Fateh Mohammad Hosni chaired the session. The delay in execution of the vital projects is so inordinate as to give the smell of corruption. For example, even the acquisition of land for Mirani Dam has not so far been completed. This goes without saying that the project’s cost has gone up manifold. The question of paying compensation to landlords also seems a tricky business because some people were demanding Rs700,000 in compensation for a tree and there are 17,000 trees on ground; the provincial government appears ready to pay Rs60,000 for a tree that I too exorbitant a rate. The provincial government needs to get the details of all the projects probed and must request the federation to involve the National Accountability Bureau in the matter. Even of no corruption has taken place and the delay owes to the inefficiency of the bureaucracy, officers responsible must be proceeded against under the efficiency rules and punished accordingly. The absence of the chief secretary and his nominee, the additional chief secretary, must also be taken seriously.