Local govts to get Rs74.5b in new fiscal in Sindh

Part of the amount will be used to initiate 86 new development schemes

KARACHI: The Sindh government plans to set aside Rs74.5 billion for local governments in the new fiscal year, the budget documents presented in the provincial assembly on Friday revealed.

The provincial authorities had reserved Rs71 billion in the outgoing fiscal year but could only release Rs67.6 billion.

From the Rs74.5 billion reserved for local governments in the upcoming fiscal, the Sindh government has proposed using Rs3.59 billion to start 86 new development projects. The new schemes carried out through local governments and the department of housing and town planning would include 49 road sector projects and 32 water and sanitation projects. However, the new projects will not include any in the health sector.

The Sindh government will also continue work on 300 ongoing local government and housing and town planning department schemes during the new fiscal year. These include 133 in the road sector, 96 water supply and sanitation schemes, 16 health sector projects, 13 building projects and 11 Sindh Solid Waste Management schemes. An amount of 1.88 billion is expected to be spent on the existing initiatives.

Provincial authorities it appears do not intend to initiate works to renovate Empress Market and its vicinity in the new fiscal as no amount has been allocated for this purpose. When the project was approved in 2016, it was scheduled to be completed by June 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs1 billion.

According to the budget documents, the provincial government will start widening of the main Hawksbay road in the new financial year and has allocated Rs250 million for this project originally approved in 2012 at a total estimated cost of Rs136 million. Rs90 million have also been allocated to continue work on a road providing access to Shaheed Benazirabad town, Hawksbay and adjoining villages.

The government will also continue work on renovating the Super Highway up till Khatam-e-Nabuwat Chowk in the new fiscal year. Rs29 million has been allocated for the ongoing scheme. Another Rs25 million have been allocated for the Hawksbay Elevated Freeway project in new budget.

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