Senator Sanaullah Baloch flayed the government saying: "This Rs 2 billion amount of my poor country was given to contractors, who have provided these tents which were not waterproof and winterised."
He asked the concerned minister to inform the house regarding steps taken by the government for construction of schools, hospitals and mosques in quake-affected areas.
He said there is no co-ordination between federal and provincial governments, which is the root cause of wastage of huge amount of national resources.
However, parliamentary affairs minister Sher Afgan tried to cover up the issue, saying there was no option available except to provide those tents to earthquake victims for emergency relief. Senator Pari Gul Agha from treasury tried to sideline the issue, saying some tents were donated by NGOs, which were not thoroughly checked by the government. Whereas, tents obtained through contract by the government were thoroughly checked before their purchase.
However, Senate chairman Mian Mohammad Soomro referred the issue to the committee. Senator Safder Abbasi challenged the authenticity of amount given to earthquake victims and criticised the government, as in most areas compensation was not yet given.
Sher Afgan replied that 73,338 persons had died in the earthquake and 128,309 persons were injured, adding Rs 4666.4 million were given to family members of persons who died, whereas Rs 576.027 million were given to injured persons, and Rs 1111.9 for construction of houses. Sher Afgan stated Rs 21 million were distributed among victims and the government cannot compensate families where even a single person did not survive.
Senator Bhinder said Rs 4666.4 million were distributed among family members of persons, who died and demanded of the government to increase this compensation amount. Health minister Nasir Khan said about 70,000 victims got slight injuries whereas, 45,000 persons were seriously injured and compensation amount is distributed among seriously injured victims.
Senator Ismael Buledi asked the minister for water and power to inform the house about exact time when electricity will be provided to villages of Sindh.
State minister for water and power Amir Muqam informed the house out of 642 villages, the government has already provided electricity to 557 villages.
Senator Enwar Bhinder asked: "Why the government has allocated less amount for Balochistan for supply of natural gas while double amount was allocated for Punjab?"
The minister said Rs 2648.4 million were allocated for Punjab; Rs 956.3 million for NWFP; Rs 4693 million for Sindh; and Rs 1867 million were given to Balochistan for of gas supply. Replying to a question raised by Gul Naseeb Khan, Amir Muqam informed the house that Wapda is undertaking feasibility studies of Goro Dop dam across Panjkora river in Dir district and Kalam dam across Gabral tributary of Swat river near Kalam at the request of NWFP government.
Senator Ismael Buledi said the PPL is working like East India company as huge profit is being earned by it bur even not one percent of the total earned profit is spent on socio-economic uplift of Sindh and Balochistan.
Senator Enwer Bhinder inquired from the petroleum minister why 746 persons were inducted from Balochistan in Saindak Metal project whereas only 56 persons were inducted from Punjab province after which a controversy was developed between Balochistan senators and treasury on this question.
Senator Ismael Buledi said if the government is ready to give due share of Balochistan in all departments then all posts of Saindak Metal project be given to Punjab province.