Poor Province – Extravagant Foreign Trip for 34 Member Delegation

Adnan Aamir

Quetta – 34 member delegation of Balochistan assembly will visit USA on a trip that will cost Rs. 35 approximately to the provincial exchequer, learnt Balochistan Point.

Delegation will be led by deputy speaker of Balochistan assembly, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo. Other participants include opposition leader Molana Abdul Wasay, deputy opposition leader Zamruk Achakzai, Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Minister for information and parliamentary affairs Abdul Rahim Zairatwal among others.

Reportedly, delegation will depart for USA on 19th August to take part in programs in connection with yearly independence festivities of Pakistan to be held in USA on 23rd August.

Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr. Malik Baloch has nominated names of five parliamentary leaders and rest of the names have been nominated by Chief Secretary, a source within Balochistan assembly told Balochistan Point.

Delegation also consists of the names of Secretary Balochistan assembly and his four staff members. Rahila Durrani is the only female member of the 34 person delegation, learnt the Balochistan Point through its source.

Deputy Secretary of Balochistan Assembly, Mr. Shams-ud-Din has written a letter to protocol office of foreign office to get visas for all 34 members of delegation on urgent basis.

Balochistan Point came to know through another source that approximately 1 million rupees will be spent on per member of delegation. This means that this delegation will cost almost Rs. 35 million to the provincial exchequer.

Dr. Malik Baloch is on record claiming to reduce administrative expenses and sending a delegation of 34 people is a clear negation of his stance,” Nawab Ghous Baksh Barozai, former Caretaker Chief Minister of Balochistan, told Balochistan Point.

Nawab Barozai further added, “I don’t see any sense in sending a crowded delegation of 34 people to USA. If our participation is necessary then we should rationalize our participation by remaining within our financial limits.”

Dr. Malik announced, at the beginning of his tenure, to cut down unnecessary government spending but he has been widely criticized for not keeping his word throughout last two years.

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Published in The Balochistan Point on August 18, 2015