Summary PML-Q MNA Chaudhry Hussain Elahi accuses the Punjab government of withholding Rs3 billion in constituency development funds and questions its spending priorities.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader and Member of the National Assembly Chaudhry Hussain Elahi has criticised the Punjab government, accusing it of withholding development funds worth Rs3 billion allocated to his constituency and neglecting areas outside Lahore.
Addressing a public gathering in Gujrat, the lawmaker took aim at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led provincial government, alleging that its development priorities were largely confined to Lahore while other districts, particularly his constituency, continued to face a shortage of funds for infrastructure projects.
Hussain Elahi questioned why the provincial government was spending money on rebuilding roads in Lahore while claiming it lacked resources when it came to development projects in other parts of Punjab.
He alleged that roads which had already been constructed in Lahore were being dug up and rebuilt, whereas constituencies outside the provincial capital were not receiving the financial support needed to carry out public welfare projects.
The PML-Q leader also questioned the government's decision to purchase an aircraft reportedly worth Rs11 billion, asking whether buying the plane was more important than providing funds for development work in public constituencies.
He claimed that Rs3 billion earmarked for development projects in his constituency had been withheld, leaving planned initiatives without the necessary financial resources.
His remarks came amid criticism of the Punjab government's development spending priorities and the distribution of funds among elected representatives across the province.
Referring to a recent statement by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz about taking Salik Hussain to court, Chaudhry Hussain Elahi said he would take the entire provincial government to court over the condition of roads and the lack of funds for their rehabilitation.
He indicated that legal action would be pursued to press for the restoration and improvement of roads in his constituency.
The PML-Q lawmaker also compared development spending under the current Punjab administration with that during the tenure of former chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.
He claimed that the amount of development funding currently spent by members of the National Assembly from the ruling party was comparable to what local councillors used to spend during Parvez Elahi's tenure as chief minister.
