WASIM IQBAL

ISLAMABAD: There is an increase in the funds allocated to President of Pakistan for his foreign trips in next fiscal year from Rs 353.9 million to Rs 354 million which is excluded from the overall expenses of President House, according to ‘Federal Budget Details of Demands for Grants and Appropriations 2013-14’.

This additional grant is not part of the regular budget of the presidency in the federal budget but reflected under the head of ‘Other expenditure of Foreign Affairs Division’. Without mentioning the foreign trips of president, the amount has been allocated under the head quietly.

During the debate on federal budget 2013-14, Finance Minister urged the lower House to bring constitutional amendment in Article 81 regarding ‘Expenditure charged upon Federal Consolidated Fund’. The remuneration payable to the President and other expenditure relating to his office, and the remuneration and the administrative expenses are expenditures charged upon the Federal Consolidated Fund and should be changed along with such other expenses, Dar had added.

Actual accumulated expenses of President in next financial year are around Rs 1 billion. The budget allocated Rs 689 million as expenses related to the President, an allocation Rs 108.9 million lower compared to the revised allocation of current year which is Rs 798 million. The budgeted allocation for President’s expenses for 2012-13 was Rs 616 million. However, tour expenses of President within the country have been cut down from Rs 8.8 million in 2012-13 to Rs 6.4 million in 2013-14.

Soon after taking his oath as President, Asif Ali Zardari went on nine foreign visits from September 2008 to March 2009, which cost a whopping Rs 157.257 million to the national exchequer the National Assembly (NA) was informed at that time. President Zardari had to face severe criticism in August 2010 over his decision to travel abroad while the country battled the worst floods in decades.

His efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) were largely unsuccessful as FDI registered a decrease since he took oath and his slogan ‘trade not aid’ failed to improve the fragile economic condition of the country during the last five years, an official of Board of Investment on the condition of anonymity commented.

The government has earmarked Rs 60 million in budget 2013-14 for wages of household staff of the President compared to the revised estimate of Rs 65.7 million in the current budget.

Government will spend Rs 21.5 million in next fiscal year for maintenance of gardens in presidency. The allocation is an increase from the current fiscal year’s budgeted amount which was Rs 21 million revised upward to Rs 25.6 million.

Out of total expenses, Rs 348 million is estimated for President Secretariat (Personal) and another Rs 340 million for President Secretariat (Public). Major chunk of allocation of President Secretariat (Public) of Rs 206 will be consumed by employees’ related expenses.