ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Friday said that federal cabinet had decided to initiate a forensic audit of Orange Line Train, and Metro Bus projects in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that discretionary funds had been abolished to protect national exchequer.
Earlier, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif during the PML-N government had utilized Rs 21 billion from those funds, he said. Nawaz had also provided some Rs 30 billion to the members of National
Assembly of different constituencies for winning the general election in the past, he added.
Nawaz Sharif had used the discretionary funds ruthlessly, Fawad said. After the Panama Papers issue, Nawaz Sharif addressed many public meetings and pledged to build airports and other gigantic projects for winning the hearts of the people, he added.
He said Nawaz Sharif had spent the taxpayers’ money for personal gains besides distributing the funds to the PML-N MNAs.
Prime Minister Imran Khan took a historic decision and abolished the discretionary funds, the information minister stated. The prime minister wanted to make Pakistan a developed country, besides making it clean and green.
Fawad said that in future, the discretionary funds would be provided for the development projects only after holding a debate at the parliamentary forum.
The local government would be responsible for releasing the development funds, he added. The prime minister would not use personal aircraft for travelling abroad, rather use the Club Class, he said.
Commenting on the foreign investment, Fawad said that a high powered delegation was coming from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for seeking investment opportunities in Pakistan.
He said besides Saudi Arabia and the UAE, other offshore drilling companies were also keen to avail the investment opportunities here.
Fawad said that tourism and exports were the priorities of the present government, adding that steps were also being taken to enhance remittances and exports.
All out efforts were being made to control budget deficit, he said. The PTI government, he said had given confidence to the people that their money would not be wasted.
To a question, he said two committees had been formed for better use of the prime minister and president houses, besides the governor houses in Karachi, Nathia Gali, Lahore, and Peshawar respectively. Asad Umar would lead a committee in which, Razak Dawood and Khusro Bakhtiar would be the members, he added.
The committee would also take the decision for proper utilization of the heritage buildings, he said.
In reply to another question, he said Imran Khan was using staff colony for his residence. He said the prime minister and the finance minister would also announce the investment projects that could benefit the overseas Pakistanis.
