Shahbaz Sharif’s ‘one-man show’ hampering Pak Punjab flood relief work

LAHORE - Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s desire to supervise the work of various departments personally and be the all powerful chief executive in Pakistan’s Punjab province is reportedly affecting flood relief work in the region.

According to the Daily Times, the official machinery that was to deliver flood-related relief to the masses; is being kept busy on protocol duty.

Punjab has no full time minister for the department, nor does it have a full time secretary to look after flood-related matters.

The local bodies’ department, which could have served as the backbone of all rescue and rehabilitation work, has been rendered useless by Sharif, who almost a year ago assumed the charge of this vital department, as well as numerous others, under the pretext of bifurcation of these departments.

Rumours are circulating that the department lost its last serving minister, Dost Muhammad Khosa, only because he happened to be outspoken, a trait seldom liked by the current ruling family of Punjab.

There are many in the PML-N who believe that the all-important local bodies’ department had been rendered headless on two counts; firstly because Shahbaz kept it with him, and secondly, because if he had to give it to anybody in his team, it would have been the scion of senior Khosa as per the promise made to him.

The local bodies department, despite the fact that it is functioning without an active chief, has the potential to carry out significant rescue and rehabilitation work.

A majority accept that if this work force had been exploited astutely and timely, there would have been less loss of human life and livestock. (ANI)