Lahore, November 26; MPAs, politicians and media persons in Punjab vowed to work in their respective spheres of influence to create awareness on grievances of South Punjab at a PILDAT Public Policy Dialogue on Grievances of South Punjab: Myth and Reality.

A PILDAT Discussion Paper Development Funds for South Punjab was also shared on the occasion based on the statistics of development funds allocated to South Punjab from 2003 to 2010.

Opening the session, PILDAT Executive Director Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said that PILDAT�s objective behind conducting research on grievances of the South Punjab has been to put forward facts and statistics for a rational dialogue and to reach a conclusion whether South Punjab is a victim of disparity or not. The fact and figures carried in the PILDAT Discussion Paper show that South Punjab has been receiving lesser allocation of funds compared to the rest of the Punjab and although the trend has reversed in recent years, the gap between the due share and actual allocation of funds still remains.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani, former Federal Minister of Information, presented an overview of the conditions, problems and hurdles South Punjab, especially Bhawalpur has been facing. He said that the real picture of South Punjab becomes evident once one leaves Multan District, an area which is benefiting the most due to Prime Minister Gilani�s South Punjab package. Bahawalpur alone has a poverty rate of 52% and literacy rate of 34%. Bahawalnagar, Vehari and Rajanpur have the worst conditions within South Punjab. After the NFC award, Bahawalpur should receive a share of Rs. 64 billion but the figures show that it has received only Rs. 2 billion as development fund and Rs. 11 billion as non-developmental fund. From 2006-2008, Punjab received foreign aid of 3 billion but no money was actually spent on South Punjab. South Punjab faces the worst of the Water issues in Punjab as out of 16 canals only 1 canal is operational. He said that the distribution of funds within provinces should also be based on a formula much like the NFC through which provinces receive their shares from the federation.

Mr. Ishaq Khaqwani, former Minister of State, agreeing with Senator Durrani further elaborated that it is not only South Punjab which is facing disparity but this can also be seen in other parts of Pakistan. South Punjab disparity is now a reality and we as a nation should stand behind the principle of making these conditions better and not make this a political issue. He said that disparity has two pictures, Economic and Administrative. The latter is more important in the case of South Punjab. He concluded by saying that if South Punjab is made a separate entity, it will be a step forward.

Chaudhary Abdul Ghafoor, MNA, thanked PILDAT and the role it is playing in creating awareness in the public domain by facilitating fact-based discourse on a sensitive topic like South Punjab. He said that when we are discussing issues like poverty and education we should not focus on one specific area but look at the bigger picture. He criticized the amount of funds allocation South Punjab has been receiving and termed it as zakat not fund. He said South Punjab is facing difficult time in terms of agriculture, industries and health. He said that the mortality rate of South Punjab is very high compared to other regions of Pakistan.

Prominent among the discussants at the dialogue were Mr. Ehsan-ul-Haq Nolatia, MPA (PP-253; PPPP), Ms. Sajida Mir, MPA (W336; PPPP), Mr. Pervez Rafique, MPA (NM 368; PPPP), Mr. Babar Khan Khaitran, MPA (PP266; PPPP), Ms. Arifa Khalid (W305; PML-N), Ms. Ayesha Javed, MPA (W355; PML), Mian Muhammad Shafiq, MPA (PP207; PPPP), and Ms. Maiza Hameed, (W310; PML-N), etc.

PILDAT received the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Pakistan is hosting the Policy Dialogue and preparing the Discussion Paper.