K-P spends Rs24b for AIP projects in NMTDs
PHOTO: REUTERS
The provincial government spent as much as Rs24 billion on developing 127 projects in 17 sectors, particularly in the relief and rehabilitation centre.
This was disclosed in a progress report issued by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Planning and Development Department on its Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) on Monday for the newly merged tribal districts (NMTDs).
The report for the fiscal year 2019-20, had been issued after the approval of the K-P Chief Minister Mehmood Khan.
Under AIP, the government approved Rs142 billion for the development of 127 projects. Though the government only consumed around 16.9 per cent or just Rs24 billion on them.
The report said that the largest chunk of this sum, Rs12.265 billion, had been spent in the relief and rehabilitation sector followed by Rs6.6 billion for the restoration of businesses affected by conflicts in the merged districts.
The government also utilised funds of Rs1.51 billion for Rescue 1122 service at the district level while it spent Rs0.75 billion on improving the service at the division level.
The report further said that the government disbursed around Rs2.9 billion on different primary and secondary level school projects in the tribal districts.
A further Rs1.95 billion had been utilised for uplifting infrastructure, Rs0.39 billion on the provision of school bags and stationery, Rs0.23 billion on building play areas, and Rs0.31 billion on providing free books to students.
A total of Rs2.6 billion were spent on healthcare facilities in the merged districts, including Rs1.24 billion on the provision of medicines and vaccines.
Under the accelerated programme, some Rs1.5 billion were spent on irrigation projects in the region, including Rs0.85 billion on the Gomal Zam Dam and around Rs0.17 billion on the restoration of irrigation channels in the NMTDs.
The report said that some Rs0.15 billion and Rs0.13 billion were spent on providing youth development package and sports facilities respectively.
Some seven trade routes in the tribal districts were uplifted and restored at cost of Rs1.869 billion during the first year of the AIP.
It added that Rs6.32 billion were spent on the energy sector which included the construction of new projects and uplifting of existing energy generation sources.
The government also spent Rs20.6 million on social development and Rs1.2 billion in the industrial sector by providing interest-free loans under the Insaf Rozgar Scheme.
In the first year of API, the government released Rs1.34 billion for the agricultural sector.
The report stated that the government faced huge challenges due to the merger of public offices of erstwhile federally administered tribal areas (Fata) in the K-P Secretariat, unavailability of complete and proper record, lack of resources due to the coronavirus situation.
The report further stated that the government will work on some 261 projects during 2020-21 including the ongoing projects and the new ones. A sum of Rs49 billion has been allocated for the development schemes for the fiscal year 2020-21 under AIP.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2020.