Devolution: Over 30 projects on chopping block

Devolution, lack of funds, corruption blamed for cuts.


Peer Muhammad June 01, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


More than 30 education, tourism and poverty alleviation projects of different ministries on the concurrent list of the Constitution will be devolved by June 30.


The Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) division issued the directives to the cabinet division at a recent meeting.

The division directed the devolution cell to take steps to end projects that are on the concurrent list by June 30. The IPC also asked the division to provide funds for these projects to clear their liabilities, before their assets are taken over. Twenty of these projects are in the education sector, five in tourism, eight in livelihood and dairy development, and one project is related to culture.

The biggest of these projects is “Establishment and Operation of Basic Education Community Schools”. Around 15,000 community schools are running under this project nationwide and giving free-of-charge education to around 50,000 students.

Sources said that the provinces are not ready to adopt this project due to pending liabilities, high levels of corruption and nepotism. A large number of political appointees hold senior positions in this project, whereas teachers have not received their salaries for the last nine months.

Other education projects which will be shut down include “Education for All”, “Enhancing Partnership in Education through Targeted Conditional cash Transit Program”, construction of cadet colleges, model schools for girls and boys, libraries and other projects aimed at increasing primary education in the country.

The tourism projects that are being canned include extension and rehabilitation of various Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation facilities.

Lists of projects to be cancelled:

Education for All

Enhancing Partnership in Education through Targeted Conditional cash Transit Program

Construction of cadet colleges at Shigar, Pishin, Gwardar, at Shigar, Ziarat, Bolan, Upper Dir, Lakhi, Swat, Charsadda and Chitral

Establishment of seven model schools for girls and seven for boys at FATA

Punjab School Libraries project under German Debt Swab

Grant for Sustainability of Community Schools under National Education Fundation

Promotion of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Pakistan,

Strengthening of Monitoring and Evolution Cell Ministry of Education

Construction/Renovation and Repair of Building of Curriculum Wing and Hostel

Financial Management for Good Governance

Education Leadership and Institutional Management

Promotion Children Literature Phase-IV

Promotion of Science Education through Public Private Partnership with INTEL Corporation by Organising Science Olympics are also being wound up

Tourism Division:

Extension and Rehabilitation of PTDC Motel at Taxilla

PTDC Roadside facility at Ali Wanao, DI Khan

Repair and renovation and upgradation of Existing Facilities of PTDC Motel at Ayubia

Extension of PTDC Motel at Bahawalpur

PTDC Tourist Resorts at D I Khan are also in the list to be abolished

Livestock and Dairy Development Division:

Poverty Reduction through Livelihood and Dairy Development

Improving Reproductive Efficiency of Cattle and Buffaloes in small holders production System

Strengthening of Livestock Services for Livestock Diseases Control in Pakistan

Prime Minister’s Special Initiative for Livestock
and Milk Collection/Processing and Dairy Production

One project of the cultural division- Strengthening of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Cell would also be abolished

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2011.

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