ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers from Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) have received Rs 1,800 million for fiscal year 2017-18 for development of shattered infrastructure in tribal areas under Prime Minister’s Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amid tribesmen reservations that established rules have been trampled in spending of the fund judiciously.
According to documents obtained by Daily Times, with the exception of Kurram tribal region, parliamentarians of each of the six agencies have received Rs. 180 million under PM’s SDGs.
The NA-38, Krram agency, could not receive its due share under the SDGs because election could not be held there due to deteriorated security situation. According to documents, the first installment amounting to Rs. 550. 00 million was released to FATA parliamentarians on October 10 this year under which ten lawmakers have received equal Rs. 55 million shares respectively.
Another amount to the tune of Rs. 800 million, which was earlier surrendered by Cabinet Division on May 24 this year during previous fiscal year 2016-17 on the recommendation of steering committee of “PM’s SDGs”.
In addition, the FATA Secretariat (Finance Department) dated June 29 informed that the said amount of Rs. 800,000,000 could not be utilized, which stood lapsed and surrendered.
However, the relocation of the same funds to FATA Secretariat has been approved by the Prime Minister dated October 12 this year and endorsed by the Steering Committee of PM’s SDGs achievement programme in its meeting held on October 19.
Similarly, another amount Rs. 450 million for fiscal year 2017-18, which was once lapsed, has been released following recommendation by Steering Committee of PMs SDGs achievement programme.
According to guidelines for fund’s implementation, the PM’s SDGs achievement programme has been approved for provisioning of development opportunities in deficient areas by direct targeted intervention. The documents stated the community will recommend and propose schemes related to power sector, gas and natural resources, social, municipal sector and the entire infrastructure sector.
When contacted, ReJhmat Khan, retired additional inspector general police (Retd) who belong to FATA, said he didn’t observe the fund is spent on need based criteria.
“I don’t think any lawmaker from FATA has developed the damaged infrastructure or spend the money as per requirements of the repatriated communities,” he remarked.
According to rules, at least 15 residents of an area or civil society organization would make a request for intervention, which should be forwarded to the concerned divisional commissioner or relevant executing agencies for processing.
Muzaffar Shah, a tribal elder from Bajaur tribal belt, said that lawmakers from FATA award projects to individual on the basis of likes and dislikes.
“Most of the schemes are being given to kith and kin or political supporters by lawmakers,” Shah noted.
The rules for spending of the fund stated that schemes costing Rs. 0.5 million and maximum amount of Rs. 30 million would be entertained. Projects over and above Rs. 30 million would require approval of the Prime Minister, the guidelines for spending the amount stated.
Published in Daily Times, December 16th 2017.
