FM reviewing funds availability matter for development schemes of parliamentarians.

ISLAMABAD, August 24, 2009 (Balochistan Times): Secretary local bodies and rural development Salim Khan Jhagra has told NA standing committee the summary on enhancement of development funds by the prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to the tune of Rs 10 million for the parliamentarians is kept with ministry of finance which is reviewing the matter of availability of funds. During the last financial year funds amounting to Rs 3.32 billion were released to the parliamentarians. 168 parliamentarians were released full amount of fund while 225 parliamentarians were provided less funds due to incomplete schemes. Committee on local bodies and rural development met here Monday under its chairman Haji Riaz ud Din. Committee directed ministry of local bodies to ensure early provision of funds for the development schemes which were not completed in the last years. Ministry officials told the meeting a sum of Rs 1. 61 billion were provided to parliamentarians from Punjab for 1666 schemes during the year, 2008-09, Rs 796 million for Sindh parliamentarians, Rs 437 million for NWFP parliamentarians, Rs 284 million for Balochistan parliamentarians and Rs 143 million for FATA parliamentarians for completion of development projects. Secretary local bodies told the committee the announcement made by prime minister recently for increasing funds for parliamentarians two fold had not been implemented so far adding summary had been forwarded to ministry of finance and planning in this regard. The decision is likely to come within a month, he informed.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)