Punjab government has finalised an Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Rs685 billion for the financial year 2022-23.
The highest amount of Rs272.6 billion has been allocated for the social sector, including Rs56.7 billion for education, Rs174.9 billion for health and population welfare, Rs11.95 billion for water supply and sanitation, Rs1.6 billion for social welfare, Rs900 million for women development, Rs19.05 billion for local government and community development, and Rs7.5 billion for sports and youth affairs.
The government has allocated Rs164.26 billion for infrastructure development in the upcoming financial year. It includes Rs80.77 billion for roads, Rs27.63 billion for irrigation, Rs5 billion for energy, Rs29.5 billion for public buildings and Rs21.36 billion for urban development.
Budget documents show that the government has earmarked Rs41.4 billion for the production sector, including Rs19.56 billion for agriculture, livestock and food; Rs6.59 for forestry, wildlife and fisheries; Rs12.53 billion for industries, commerce, investment and skills development; Rs1.5 billion for mines and minerals; and Rs1.22 billion for tourism.
A sum of Rs14.8 billion will be allocated for the services sector. It includes Rs6.2 billion for governance and information technology, Rs500 million for labour and human resource development, Rs6.32 billion for transport and Rs1.8 billion for emergency services.
The ADP also has provisions of Rs37.41 billion for other development projects, including Rs5 billion for environment and climate change; Rs1.23 billion for information, culture and archaeology; Rs680 million for Auqaf and religious affairs; Rs2.5 billion for human rights and minority affairs; and Rs28 billion for planning and development.
A sum of Rs154.5 billion has also been allocated for special programmes of the chief minister and private-public partnership.
Major initiatives for the FY2022-23 include a sustainable development programme for South Punjab at a cost of Rs31.5 billion and Rs58.5 billion for other regions, Rs125 billion for universal health insurance programme, Rs1 billion for establishment of a nursing university at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Rs3.65 billion for transformation of agriculture, Rs4.8 billion for afternoon school programme, establishment of universities in five major cities at a cost of Rs1.7 billion, Rs5.5 billion for the construction of additional classrooms and Rs10.9 billion for road maintenance and rehabilitation.
Other initiatives include provision of laptops at a cost of Rs1.5 billion and revamping of district and Tehsil headquarters hospitals at a cost of Rs3.1 billion. The government has allocated Rs4.2 billion for skills development programme and Rs500 million for Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement.
Furthermore, the salient features of the Development Portfolio 2022-23 include economic development through public investment, inclusive and balanced regional development, transformation of agriculture sector, ensuring water and food security, human development through skills development, creating an environment conducive to mobilising private sector resources, support for public-private partnerships, strengthening governance through information technology and bridging the gender divide.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2022.
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