Centre funding 62% of Karachi transformation package: Asad Umar

KARACHI: Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar today (Sunday) has clarified that the federal government will contribute 62 percent for the Rs1.1 trillion Karachi financial package, while the Sindh government will fund 38 percent of it.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the massive package after a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Governor Imran Ismail but did not give a breakdown of the contributions.

Later, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed that the province was funding Rs800 billion of the total Rs1,100 billion. In this regard, Asad Umar held a press conference and refuted the claims.

While referring to Bilawal’s claims, he pointed out that there is a talk on social media that the federal government will chip in fewer funds than the provincial government.

“In the clip, he is complaining that the Sindh government is putting forward Rs800bn, whereas the federal government is only footing a cost of Rs300bn,” he informed.

Asad Umar said that he considered it necessary to clear the position. “We don’t say anything behind closed doors that we will not say in front of everyone,” he clarified.

“The total funding for the list of projects shared yesterday along with the responsibilities assigned amounted to a 62% share of the federal government and 38% of the Sindh government. So approximately, two-thirds of the funding is from the Centre,” he asserted.

The planning minister informed that CM Sindh had expressed the desire to take lead on a couple of major projects to which the federal government said it has no objection. “Even if Sindh wants to fund the entire 1,100bn plan, what could be nicer than that?” he added.