Stay on 'umbrella scheme' funding extended

Govt argues crucial projects are being delayed by order

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court bench of Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Waqar Ahmed extended a stay order which prohibits the utilisation of funds allocated for block schemes.

The decision was taken in response to a writ petition filed by the opposition against the inclusion of block/umbrella schemes in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.

The bench heard the petition filed by members of the opposition parties in the provincial assembly. At the hearing, the petitioners' lawyer, Babar Khan Yousafzai, informed the court that senior counsel Sultan Muhammad Khan was unable to appear due to road blockages in Islamabad.

He requested the hearing be postponed and the stay order extended. In contrast, the additional advocate general argued that the stay order had delayed several development projects, and thus it should be withdrawn.

The court adjourned the hearing, instructing the petitioners' lawyer to be present at the next session, and extended the stay order.

The writ petition was filed by opposition members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, including opposition leader Dr Ibad, provincial assembly members Arbab Muhammad Waseem, Ahmad Kundi, Arbab Muhammad Usman, Karamatullah Khan, Ehsanullah Khan, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, and 19 others.

They argued that they represent opposition members from various political parties who collectively secured nearly 30 million votes in the 2024 General Elections. In June 2024, the provincial government presented the budget and approved the Annual Development Program (ADP), which included certain block and umbrella schemes that they claim violate the law.

A significant amount of funds has been allocated for these schemes, which they assert is also a breach of the government's own fund release policy.

During the hearing, the AAG informed the court that comments have been submitted and requested the withdrawal of the stay order, as ongoing work had been halted.

The court, however, extended the stay order and adjourned the hearing.

Umbrella schemes in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa refer to large-scale, multi-sectoral projects grouped under a single budgetary allocation in the Annual Development Programme (ADP). These schemes allow the provincial government to approve and allocate funds for various smaller projects without individually listing each project in the budget.

The term "umbrella" suggests that numerous initiatives, often covering multiple sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, or agriculture, fall under one broad heading, which provides flexibility in funding and execution.

While umbrella schemes are designed to streamline project implementation, particularly for regions or sectors that require rapid development, they have also faced significant criticism. One major concern raised by opposition parties and civil society groups is the lack of transparency.

Since specific projects under these schemes are not itemised or detailed in public budgets, there is limited oversight regarding how funds are allocated and utilised.

This opacity can lead to potential misuse of funds or favouritism, experts believe, as the details of which regions or projects receive support may not always be clear.

In K-P, the opposition has voiced concerns about the inclusion of umbrella schemes in the 2024 ADP, arguing that such schemes violate the legal framework for budget allocation and the government's own fund release policies.