Rs6.3b to fund municipal services

Local govt and community sector allocation sees increase of 36%

LAHORE: In order to provide an efficient and effective service delivery of municipal services to the masses at the local level, the Punjab government has allocated Rs6.3 billion for the Financial Year 2019-20.

According to budget documents, the government has increased local government and community sector allocation by 36% as compared to the original allocation of Rs4.63 billion for the current fiscal year.

Out of a total Rs6.3 billion allocation, Rs3.54 billion, including Rs1 billion in foreign aid, has been earmarked for ongoing development schemes, while Rs2.73 billion have been allocated for new projects.

The document highlights new initiatives for FY 2019-20, including the establishment of a Shehr-e-Khamoshan model graveyard, costing Rs270 million, in Muridkay in Samundari, Faisalabad. A special development package of Rs559 million will be initiated for the provision of basic infrastructure in the deprived areas of Dera Ghazi Khan. Also, master land use plans of tehsil level cities will be formulated.

Punjab's environment budget slashed by 17%

The World Bank funded "Punjab Cities Programme", amounting to US$236 million, will be launched for integrated development in areas of solid waste, sewerage, water supply, urban roads, open public spaces and street lights in the 16 municipal committees of Punjab.

Under the programme, 16 municipal committees – Jhelum,Vehari, Daska, Wazirabad, Kamoki, Murdiky, Hafizabad, Gojra, Burewala, Jarranwala, Jhang, Kot Addu, Okara. Kamalia. Bahawalnagar and Khanewal – will be provided US$180 million in performance-based grants.

The mechanism of performance-based grants will be replicated in other municipalities if proven a successful experience. There will also be an information-technology based monitoring system for local governments to oversee service delivery at the local level.

Interventions piloted under the Punjab Cities Governance Improvement Project (PCGIP) for reforms will be replicated in other municipalities through a project of amounting Rs200 million. Waste to compost projects amounting Rs200 million will be piloted to develop a business model from the solid waste.

Model cattle markets will be established at Kunjah Gujrat, Ghakhar Gujranwala, Khushab, and Dera Ghazi Khan through a public-private partnership (PPP) for the livestock sector’s economic growth.

Parking plazas at Lahore, Faisalabad and other cities in Punjab will be constructed under the PPP mode. Construction of parking plazas on a PPP mode will not only address parking issues in major cities, but will also boost commercial activities and revenue generation.

The private sector will be invited to establish playlands and amusement parks on a PPP basis in potential areas of Punjab. Waste-to-energy projects will be installed on a PPP basis for cost-efficient solid waste management.

The historic sites of Chakar-e-Azam and the Sikh-era fort at Satgarh will be conserved with an amount of Rs50 million. Energy audit of local governments, with an amount of Rs500 million, will be done for energy conservation of urban municipalities. The third party validation mechanism for local governments projects will be evolved with an amount of Rs50 million.

In budget documents, the government has also announced several strategic interventions, including comprehensive strategy for restructuring and reforming operations of model cattle markets and elimination of extortion, corruption, role of middlemen and the officials’ mafia.

The government has decided to introduce an integrated development concept for better service delivery in intermediate cities and secondary cities. In order to improve funeral and burial service delivery, the government has decided to develop model graveyards under the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority (PSKA).

The government has also announced the automation of the local government process, including financial management system, pension management system, complaint redressal system, mail system and revenue collection in the upcoming financial year, besides preservation conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and historical sites.

The government has also planned to mobilise the private sector to invest in interventions of municipal services delivery, which will not only improve service delivery, but also encourage the private sector to invest in the public sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2019.