We’re rolling in money, so how come people’s lives haven’t changed, MPA candidly asks

It is rare for a politician to speak the truth and perhaps even rarer for one to ask the brutally honest questions that prompt self-reflection. But on Monday, a well-respected and highly educated MPA from none other than the government’s own party, asked Sindh’s most painful question: For the last sixty years every government has claimed to present a historic and people-friendly budget, but if this is the case, how come they haven’t brought about the socio-economic change they promised?

40% of development money devoured by corrupt officials: MPA

This reflection came from Dr Sikander Mendhro of the Pakistan Peoples Party as Sindh’s elected representatives discussed the new budget for the next fiscal year. Mendhro was also crushingly honest about corruption in the government. “Every year more than 40 per cent of our development budget goes into the pockets of different people and funds are not used on time,” he said. “There are chances that the same proportion from next year’s development budget, which is Rs61 billion, is bungled by these elements. We should seriously think about [oversight].” Mendhro wanted less harping about allocations and more focus on monitoring. “Otherwise these budgets cannot make any difference.”

The Sindh Assembly should have a quarterly review and spend 25 per cent of its time on keeping an eye on how development projects are going. Departments that don’t spend their money wisely and on time should be cut back. Indeed, a suggestion that the government would do well to consider.

And while he had the floor, Mendhro took the opportunity to chastise feudal landlords. They are members of parliament and the Sindh Assembly, can’t they do anything about the tribal clashes in their own districts?

Much in the same vein, Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s MPA Abdul Razzaque Rahimo pointed out that education’s budget has gone up 15 per cent but the standard of education seems to be on the verge of collapse. What else should one expect, he went on to imply. The former Education secretary Naheed Durrani, who happened to be an honest officer, was transferred because she wanted to make drastic changes and took action against corrupt officials.

Rahimo did not spare the health department either. So much money is allocated but dozens of basic health centres are working without doctors and due to the unhygienic conditions of public hospitals you don’t even want to venture inside, much less get treatment there. “People are dying of hunger and need to search for drinking water. But the government has presented a Rs882 million surplus budget. I cannot believe in it,” he said. There is no local government system and district governments come under the provincial government but there seems to be no one to ask what has happened to the Rs200 million given to Town Municipal Administrations and Rs0.2 million to each union council.

Dr Ahmed Ali Shah of the PPP, who heads the Sindh Assembly committee to oversee breaches, said that even though work was done, it wasn’t satisfactory and much of it was washed away.

For his part, Moin Amir Pirzada of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement brought up the 341 small schemes that were dropped from the development budget or ADP. He demanded the government review its decision. “The schemes were started in 2007 and 25 per cent of the money or Rs5 billion has been spent,” he said. “So we cannot drop them at the moment.” The government should have at least mentioned it before making such a decision.

PPP MPA Pitanbar Sewani had his own axe to grind. The budget did not mention foreign loans. The 5% quota for minorities in government jobs was virtually abandoned, even though it was in the PPP manifesto. “A budget was allocated for the minority department, but hardly five per cent of it was used for their welfare,” he added. “During the floods 0.2 million Hindus were affected, but neither the ministers nor any government representative helped them.”

MQM MPA Faheem Khan said that government had given special packages worth billions of rupees to Larkana, Khairpur, Benazirabad, Hyderabad and Karachi, but no such package was given to other towns, which have been neglected by successive governments. Take Mirpurkhas for example.

Around 27 MPAs out of 168 took part in the budget discussion, which will continue for about one week.

Film on Benazir Bhutto leaves all spellbound

Karachi: It was on the eve of Benazir Bhutto’s 57th birthday, when a special screening of the Duane Baughman’s recently released film “Bhutto”, pulled in the who’s who of Pakistan to the theatre. From the bigwigs of Karachi to the representatives of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), all attended this much awaited screening with immense anticipation.

Shehla Raza, DeputySpeaker, Sindh Assembly said, “As we watched the film, we saw how a dictator ruined a country and a family.”

The one-and-a-half hour long documentary was first premiered at the 26th Sundance Film festival early this year. On June 11, the documentary hit all theatres across Pakistan generating much public interest.

“The film has received good response. A lot of people are watching this film. The film is presently in English. It should be translated into Urdu and local languages as well,” said Kaiser Rafiq,Director,Universe Cineplex Karachi.

Bhutto’s assassination has served as a fodder for film makers across the world. Ever since her death, a number of projects were announced and worked out. However, Duane Baughman’s ‘Bhutto’ is the first film about the assassinated former premier to have released so far. Apart from trailing the story of her life and her rise and shine, voices of international leaders like former president Musharraf, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, journalists Mark Seigal, Christiana Lamb, and Tariq Ali, mapping her political career, keep viewers glued to their seats until the very end of the documentary.

After watching the film with his children,Nadeem Mandiwalla,Managing Director,Mandviwalla Entertainment said, “This is a great film, compared to what we see otherwise in Pakistan, this movie is very different. Something, that talks about the life of leaders in layman terms. An informative film for the new generation that has no idea about, how just a normal woman turned out to become a gritty politician, whereas at the same time she managed her family, her children, and her marital obligations equally well.”

Although, it is over ten days now since the movie’s release, the film is still pulling in the crowds. Critics have praised Baughman’s narration and technique. Baughman has used Bakhtawar and Aseefa, her sister Sanam and even her estranged niece Fatima to bring alive the personal aspect of the Bhutto’s life. The film also features a special tribute to Benazir Bhutto by her daughter Bakhtawar, who has reworked on the PPP’s anthem “Dila Teer Bija” exclusively for the film.

With so many added attractions the film has left all spellbound making it a runaway hit. Distributors can’t stop smiling as they believe that in the coming weeks too, the film will rope in more big bucks.