No 'lavish' moonsighting dinner for Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

PESHAWAR: Following a backlash received over a tender notice sent by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) Auqaf Department for a dinner arrangement of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee's meeting for the Ramadan moonsighting, the relevant ministry withdrew it within hours.

“I am directed to refer to the subject noted above and to state that the minister has directed that the subject tender mentioned above is withdrawn immediately and further have asked for a detail report to be submitted within 12 hours,” a notification from KP Information Minister Mian Feroz Jamal Shah Kaka Khel read.

Shah, who also holds the portfolio of religious affairs and Auqaf, directed his ministry to ensure that it is "very cautious of the fact that austerity measures should be taken in all respects of expenditures spent from the public exchequer".

"The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee [members] is our most honourable guests and are welcomed. The invitation should be extended only to the members of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and not as has transpired by the tender," the notification added.

In conversation with Geo News, the minister said that despite around a dozen of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee members being present every year for the moonsighting, it was unusual that a tender was floated for 200 people.

The Auqaf Department had earlier in the day issued a tender for the dinner arrangement of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee's meeting for the Ramadan moonsighting.

The tender, which has mentioned several scrumptious food items under the VIP menu, had invited netizens' ire as the country battles with a severe economic crisis.

What was on the menu?

Food for VIPs 100 persons

• Dumpukht with rice 02 Nos
• Naranj rice with beef
• Mix vegetable
• Chicken tikka boti
• Naan
• Seekh kebab
• Russian salad
• Fresh salad
• Halwa
• Mineral water
• Cold drinks

Food for general public 100 persons

• Chicken curry
• Mix vegetable
• Halwa
• Naan
• Cold drinks

Reception tea

• Black tea
• One bite pastry
• One bite patties
• One bite sandwich
• Biscuits

Criticism

Social media users had criticised the interim provincial government and the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for attempting to spend money on food items amid the country's financial crunch.