A village in each district to be declared model village in next fiscal year: Sindh CM

Each village is to have a population of not more than 1,000 persons, says Murad

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has decided to declare one village in every district of Sindh a model village, in the next financial year.

"[Each] model village, having a population of not more than 1,000 persons, will have [all basic] facilities including water supply, sanitation, schools, hospitals, paved roads, streetlights, community centres and [public] transport," he elaborated while presiding over a meeting called on Tuesday to review the progress of ongoing 401 development schemes, under the provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP), in five districts, at a cost of Rs28.97 billion.

Addressing the elected representatives from different districts, he asked them to identify villages that could be made model villages and sought their recommendations on the matter.

He also asked them to monitor the progress of the ongoing schemes, launched under ADP, in their respective areas.

Badin

The meeting was informed that 75 schemes, including 26 new projects, were launched in Badin District under ADP, and these would collectively cost Rs3.24 billion. The government has so far released Rs2.34 billion for the projects, 72% of the allocated funds, and Rs1.76 billion has been spent on the schemes until now.

On being briefed about the schemes, the CM directed the relevant officials to complete all schemes by the end of the current financial year.

Schemes worth around Rs59 million were in progress in the area, under the district ADP, the participants of the meeting were told.

Thatta

The meeting was further told that 78 schemes, under the provincial ADP, costing Rs3.16 billion were launched in Thatta. From among these, a budget of Rs25 billion has been allocated for 12 schemes, funds for which have been released. Funds for other 12 schemes, exceeding Rs25 billion, will be released in two installments. Besides, 20 of the schemes are ongoing and 32 are newly launched. The CM remarked that so far Rs1.29 billion was released for the projects but of the amount, just Rs457.14 billion was utilised.

"This is unacceptable," he said, instructing the relevant officials and departments to ensure that the schemes were completed on time.

Sujawal

In Sujawal District, 46 schemes, worth Rs1.16 billion, have been launched, the meeting was informed. So far, the government has released Rs5.56 billion for the completion of the project, of which Rs319.57 million has been spent. Of the schemes, funds for nine projects have been released, while those for four others are being released in installments. Meanwhile, 22 new schemes have been launched. As many as 11 of the projects in the area are district specific.

Mirpurkhas

The CM was also informed that 80 schemes were launched in Mirpurkhas, including 34 new schemes, costing Rs6.7 billion. The government has released Rs4.74 billion for the projects until now, of which Rs3 billion has been spent. Addressing the meeting, the CM said that of the 80 schemes for the district, funds for 12 had been released fully, while funds for the remaining projects had been released partially.

Tharparkar

The CM was further told that the Sindh government launched 122 schemes, under the provincial ADP, in Tharparkar, collectively costing Rs14.65 billion. So far, Rs8.44 billion has been released for the projects, of which Rs4.52 billion has been utilised.

Later in the meeting, various schemes, progress of which was slow, were identified. The CM directed the relevant departments to expedite work on those projects and report to him on the progress in the upcoming meetings.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2020.