Rs18b released for uplift schemes
The Punjab government has released funds for development projects at the tehsil level in the province.
According to sources, special attention will be paid to rural areas while utilising the funds that had earlier been withheld for a long time.
Provincial Local Government Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal issued the notification of the distribution of funds among the districts. The department has transferred Rs18 billion required for annual development projects.
According to the secretary, the funds have been transferred to the relevant accounts and they will be utilised under the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act. The expenses for the development projects will be made through crossed cheques. The relevant local administration will be responsible for maintaining the records.
According to official documents, Rs1369.15 million has been transferred to Sialkot, Rs1045.96 million to Okara, Rs372.128 million to Narowal, Rs230.507 million to Jhelum and Rs459.2442 million to Chakwal district. Pakpattan has received Rs421.823 million, Nankana Sahib Rs211.456 million, Faisalabad Rs953.033 million, Muzaffargarh Rs514.388 million, Rahim Yar Khan Rs755.72 million, Bahawalpur Rs63.202 million, Rajanpur Rs659.7809 million, Layyah 615.8868 million, Vehari Rs780.223 million and Khanewal Rs492 million.
Among other districts, Lodhran has received Rs176.297 million for development projects, Multan Rs383.594 million, Bahawalnagar Rs434.074 million, Sheikhupura Rs527.03 million, Sahiwal Rs877.13171 million, Kasur Rs98.913 million, Gujart Rs606.147 million, Mandi Bahauddin Rs364.002 million, Hafizabad Rs76.699 million, Chiniot Rs213.888 million, Gujranwala Rs689.513 million, Jhang Rs101.375 million, Toba Tek Singh Rs499.153 million, Mianwali Rs146.0364 million, Bhakkar Rs476.3968 and Khushab Rs240.971 million.
The funds have been disbursed while keeping in view a formula based on the ratio of population and lack of development in the areas concerned.
Sources said that the funds were withheld after the district council system was abolished. Now the amounts have been released for development work at the local level.
According to Local Government Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, a summary has been approved for the disbursement of the funds so that the people of the province may benefit from development and get better facilities.
He said that after the release of the funds, a clear and transparent system will be set up and progress on the projects will be monitored to ensure transparency. A senior officer will check the funds being spent on development schemes and will also visit the areas to monitor the work.
The provincial secretary said the funds had not been utilised for a long time but now the focus will be on monitoring the development process after the release of funds. He added that any official not fulfilling his responsibilities in this regard would face action.
However, former deputy mayor of Lahore Ejaz Hafeez alleged while commenting on the move that the government had released the funds to local authorities at a time when Senate elections and by-polls in several constituencies of assemblies are set to be held soon.
He said members of the provincial assemblies had been complaining that they were unable to face their voters because of lack of development work and the new projects were aimed at appeasing them. He said the government had earlier promised to spend 30 percent of the development funds through local governments and had also declared before the courts its willingness to hold their elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2021.