A Senate committee has directed the federal government to stop diverting development funds allocated for Mazar-e-Quaid, after learning that Rs. 45 million earmarked for the national monument had been transferred to the Ministry of Education.

The issue came up during a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain. Officials informed the committee that the allocation approved for the current fiscal year had been shifted to the Education Ministry.

The committee was also told that the federal government has approved a Rs. 295 million project to renovate and upgrade the Quaid-e-Azam Heritage Museum located at Mazar-e-Quaid.

Officials said no funding had been released for the project in previous years. Although Rs. 45 million was allocated in the current fiscal year to begin work, the amount was later reallocated to another ministry.

Committee members criticized the move and questioned the rationale behind transferring funds approved for a specific development project.

Senator Zamir Hussain directed that all funds allocated for Mazar-e-Quaid must remain dedicated to the project and should not be reassigned to any other ministry. He also said the committee would monitor the utilization of the allocated funds to ensure they are spent as intended.