Staff Reporter
In a bid to win Senate elections, the government of Punjab has doled out funds of Rs10 billion to PTI MPAs as well as those belonging to the allied parties.
The provincial finance department has also confirmed the release of the funds.
According to sources privy to the development, funds, which have been distributed under Fund Community Development Programme, will be spent in elected representatives’ constituencies.
Only in Lahore, Rs2.5 billion have been disbursed to members of the provincial assembly belonging to the PTI.
The channel has further learnt that more funds of Rs5 billion will be given to the MPAs in the days ahead. On January 28, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in continuation of his efforts to woo the opposition lawmakers ahead of the Senate elections met with two MPAs – one each from the PML-N and the PPP. Buzdar first met PPP MPA from PP-265 Raees Nabeel Ahmad.
PTI leader Awon Chaudhry was also present in the meeting. Nabeel, on this occasion, expressed trust in the leadership of Usman Buzdar and briefed him about the problems his constituency was facing. The chief minister said the far-flung areas had the first right on the development projects as these areas were deliberately ignored by the previous government.
Buzdar said, “My doors are open to all and I want to solve everyone’s problems. Enemies of the development cannot mislead the nation by their negative propaganda.” Later, Usman Buzdar had a meeting with another PML-N lawmaker – Kashif Mahmood. MPA Kashif was the third Nawaz League MPA to have met with the Punjab chief minister in as many days. Kashif Mahmood enquired after the chief minister and also reposed confidence in his leadership.
