Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday said that elected representatives of local region will decide about place for capital of South Punjab province.
Addressing a press conference at Circuit House, Foreign Minister Qureshi stated that there is a confusion that South Punjab’s secretariat was being set up in Bahawalpur. “This is not true. Elected representatives from South Punjab will decide the place for capital of the new province,” he clarified.
Qureshi said there are elements who are bent on creating confusion among people of the region. Creation of South Punjab province is part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) manifesto as people of the region gave mandate to the PTI in the last general election, he stated. PTI is making sincere efforts for South Punjab province, he maintained, adding that it will move a bill in assembly soon. He said the government will try its best to seek support for the new province from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML N). He, however, urged upon local elected representatives of PPP and PML-N to extend support towards creation of South Punjab province.
Qureshi said PTI is not interested in taking any kind of credit on South Punjab province, however it is ready to give credit to other political parties if they extend support in this regard. He lamented that there are few elements who are opposing the move and creating confusions among masses. “As PTI lacks required majority for amendment in constitution for creation of new province, it has decided to set up a secretariat to facilitate people. No amendment is required for establishment of civil secretariat in the region,” he maintained.
“During consultation meetings for South Punjab province, some people wished that Multan should be capital of the new province. They extended their logical arguments in favour of Multan. Similarly, some others wished Bahawalpur as capital of South Punjab,” Qureshi said, “In meetings, we discussed various administrative and financial requirements for new province. It was decided that two officers, additional chief secretary and additional IGP, will be deputed,” he said. “PTI wants to move forward for establishment of civil secretariat during April,” he said. “However, it will be completely functional by July 1,” he said. “In case there is no consensus about place of the secretariat, then South Punjab assembly will decide about it. In democracy, the majority’s opinion is always honoured,” he added.
Foreign Minister Qureshi urged Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Yusuf Raza Gilani and Shahbaz Sharif to extend cooperation for South Punjab province. He stated that leadership of opponent political parties should cooperate and also take credit.
Qureshi maintained that PTI government is introducing ‘ring fence concept’ for utilization of earmarked funds locally. In past, funds were allocated for South Punjab region but they were spent on other projects. However, in ring fence concept, funds will be used locally, he stated.
He urged masses, intellectuals, journalists, local representatives and others to avoid any confusion and move forward for creation of the province. “The development of Multan is linked to development of Bahawalpur and vice versa. Similarly, development of Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan is also linked to Multan and vice versa. So people should not fall prey to any misunderstanding or confusion and extend maximum support towards the new province,” he maintained.
