Big numbers: Massive increase in development budget

PESHAWAR:

Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan has revealed funds allocated for development have seen a marked increase under PTI’s regime.

The total development budget allocation during ANP’s government in 2011-12 was Rs6.86 billion out of which Rs3.85billion was allocated for local development while a little over Rs3 billion was set aside for urban development.

However, under PTI’s rule, the development budget allocation for the local development sector stands at Rs18.97 billion while Rs33.42 billion have been earmarked for urban development. The grand total amounts to over Rs52.39 billion – an increase of over Rs45 billion. In addition, Rs42 billion is being distributed among the districts under the devolution programme.



In the provincial capital, development projects worth Rs28 billion have been initiated.

These are also a massive increase from the time General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf ruled the country. Under Musharraf’s regime, Rs1.67 billion was allocated for development in districts. Today, that figure is over 1,700% more.

Even Peshawar has seen a massive increase in its development budget from the previous year for the district council, municipal corporation and university town committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2015.