Out with the new, in with the old

Development projects in new budget include several schemes that have already been completed

KARACHI: When it comes to inclusion of development schemes in budget documents, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government is without compare. It does its job so well that it allocates funds to schemes that have already been completed, along with new target dates of completion.

Under the list of provincial mega schemes for Karachi, the Sindh government has mentioned in the upcoming fiscal year’s documents development projects that were completed months ago.

The local government funds for the next fiscal year have been enhanced from Rs7.8 billion to Rs9.13 billion, which is a 16.5% increase over last year's budget.

Construction of the Drigh Road Underpass on Sharae Faisal with restoration of an existing right turn bridge is a feature of this year's provincial budget. However, the underpass was inaugurated last July. A few weeks ago, the right turn bridge on Drigh Road was also opened for the public after restoration. However, the Sindh government has allocated Rs691 million for both projects in the 2018-19 budget.



Likewise, the reconstruction of Tipu Sultan Road from Shahrae Faisal to Karsaz and improvement plan for the roads surrounding the Cantt Railway Station are completed projects but have again been listed in the upcoming budget with fund allocation and new target dates of completion.

During his budget speech, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that during the upcoming financial year, they have proposed Rs29.02 billion for 262 ongoing schemes of water supply, sanitation and solid waste management in the province. "Of which Rs9.1 billion has been allocated for 141 ongoing schemes of the public health engineering department for water supply and sewerage system in the Annual Development Programme of 2018-19," he said, adding that this includes 15 schemes at a cost of Rs3.62 billion in phase-I for elimination of sewage discharge in fresh water bodies.

Karachi's life line, the Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan, S-III and Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme, K-IV Phase-I once again missed their target dates of completion. Both were supposed to be completed by June, 2018, according to last year's budget document. In the current ADP for the upcoming fiscal year, the target date of completion has been moved to June 2020 and June 2018 respectively.

The new schemes of the public health engineering department and local government department will be accommodated under the provision of Rs50 billion earmarked separately as a block allocation for new schemes for all sectors in ADP 2018-19.



The provincial budget has no mention of the schemes announced by Governor Mohammad Zubair on Wednesday. The schemes he announced were part of the Rs25 billion federal government package for Karachi and included upgrading the city’s firefighting system, establishing a medical college at Karachi University and several road projects.

Grant in aid has been kept at Rs5.55 billion in the upcoming fiscal year. Rs800 million has also been allocated for the installation of full bore electromagnetic water flow meters by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

The montly Octrai and Zila Tax share of each union council has been enhanced by 50% in the upcoming fiscal year, from Rs200,000 to Rs300,000.