Disparity: The less developed, the lesser the pie

As spending in developed areas gets heftier, the less developed ones lag further behind

ISLAMABAD: The gap between spending in developed and less developed areas has widened by 12-fold during the three-year tenure of the incumbent PML-N government.

The stark difference in the spending was highlighted in a document of the Ministry of Housing and Works. The areas include Fata, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab.

According to the document, the government allocated about Rs28.9 billion for 77 development schemes in 2013-14, out of which only two were for less developed areas and were worth Rs2.75 billion.

Similarly, Rs31.6 billion were allocated for 48 schemes in 2014-15 of which only Rs2.76 billion were spent on three schemes in less developed areas. In the previous fiscal year about Rs35.7 billion were allocated for 63 schemes and only Rs2.75 billion were spent on two projects in less developed areas.

The comparison suggests a gradual increase in the funding for developed areas from 9.1% in 2013-14 to 10.5% in 2014-15 and 11.9% in 2015-16. However, funding in less developed areas remained stagnant.

The issue of neglecting less developed areas has been a pressing matter with even the Senate formulating a functional committee to address the problem.

Interestingly, the housing ministry told the lawmakers that during the last three years about 19 schemes were planned in underdeveloped areas of which 14 were to be completed by June 30, 2016.

Ministry of Finance was also blamed for not approving funds.

MDGs allocation

The allocation of projects and funds for developed and underdeveloped areas has also sped up under the head of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The project is overseen by the federal government.

Out of a total of 201 projects in 2014-15, 105 were for underdeveloped areas and Rs2.3 billion were earmarked for the projects. The number of projects rose to 253 in underdeveloped areas for which Rs9.18 billion were set aside.

Ironically, of the 105 projects under MDGs in 2014-15, only eight were for Balochistan worth Rs60 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2016.