The deepest cuts occurred in basic education. Expenditure on primary education was not even half of what it was in the previous year. It crashed from Rs15.2 billion to a mere Rs6.2 billion. The fate of secondary education was no different. Its expenditure plummeted from Rs16.3 billion to 8.9 billion. Basic health was the next big casualty. The expenditure on mother and child health was cut by half. Primary and preventive health facilities received 32 per cent less. There was a 10 per cent reduction in expenditure on the environment, water supply and sanitation. Rural development was also slashed by as much as 19 per cent. Only population planning increased by 12 per cent and that, too, mainly because the programme continues to be funded by the federal government.
So, where is the money going if not in the basics that matter to the poor? Mostly, it is the big-ticket items, even in a shrinking resource envelope. Roads and bridges topped the list, their expenditure rising from Rs8.9 billion to Rs13.1 billion. Tertiary facilities were preferred in education and health. General universities and colleges were given Rs5.4 billion over the earlier expenditure of Rs3.2 billion. Similarly, professional universities and colleges received Rs3.8 billion compared to Rs3.1 billion in the earlier year. General Hospitals located in urban areas were allowed to increase their spending from Rs8.8 billion to Rs9.8 billion. A saving grace is provided by the significant increase in the expenditure on agriculture, a pro-poor sector by all accounts. Expenditure on this sector increased from Rs8.4 to Rs12.2 billion. Also important, in this respect, was the increase of expenditure related to disasters from Rs4.4 billion to Rs6.5 billion.
The KP economy has been under intense stress from natural and man-made shocks. Already, the province consists of the least developed parts of the country. While attacks by militants adversely affect the business climate, the natural disasters — besides causing immense human suffering — have taken a big toll of its meagre capital assets, and these need repair and replacement. But the province had an enormous pre-existing social deficit, only made worse by natural disasters and militant attacks on schools and health facilities.
To apply such major cuts as in 2010-11 to the creation of non-tertiary social assets is an unwise policy in terms of equity as well as long-term growth.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2012.
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its a well written article i would just like to add that well planned bridges and roads are the need of KPK but unfortunately the one being constructed are not well planned but this does not mean that the budget for other necessary sectors should be reduced. basically they have increased the budget for things in which they themselves can get share.
As mentioned by the author, The rise in the expenditure on roads and bridges is mainly due to the floods and militants targeting the bridges. Well written article though.
Interesting article. This budgetary prioritization is certainly reflective of our misplaced priorities. It is sad to see that we are evading expenditure on human development expenses (such as education) and kicking the can down the road for future generations.