Review panel reveals uneven expenditure in the last three years. PHOTO: FILE
Mapping government and donor investment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reveals uneven distribution across nine crucial government sectors in the province during the last three years.
The Post Crisis Needs Assessment (PCNA) implementation review of investment in K-P during 2010-2013, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, shows that while some sectors were heavily funded in excess of PCNA recommendations, others were significantly underfunded.
The PCNA was formally released to respond to the aftermath of military operations in K-P and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) which not only damaged infrastructure, but also resulted in the displacement of nearly three million people.
The PCNA was supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Commission (EC), United Nations (UN) and the World Bank (WB). The objectives of the PCNA was to enhance the response and effectiveness of the state to restore citizen-state trust, stimulate employment and livelihood opportunities, ensure delivery of basic services, and to counter radicalisation while fostering reconciliation.
The summary of investments in K-P as against the PCNA recommendations reveals that most investment was made in the infrastructure sector, followed by education and health while strategic communication was the most neglected sector.
Minding the gap
In the governance sector, actual investment in the last three years stood at $8.68 million, with government and donor contributions accounting for 29% and 71%, respectively. The PCNA recommendations, however, had proposed an allocation of $31.40 million in the sector.
Similarly, in the law sector, $6.13 million was invested with 100% of the amount coming from the provincial government. PCNA’s recommendation amounted to $45.03 million.
Against the PCNA’s figure of $18.99 million for strategic communication, only $2.48 million was invested – with all the funding coming from the provincial government.
Contrary to PCNA’s $283.53 million recommendation in the social protection sector, $28.11 million was actually invested, with 87% and 13% coming from the provincial kitty and donors, respectively.
The PCNA recommended allocation of $482.55 million in the agriculture and natural resources sector, but actual investment stood at $128.4 million. The government contributed 41% of this, while donors chipped in 59%.
More than necessary
In the education sector, $10.73 million was to be invested according to the recommendation of the PCNA but in actuality a whopping $277.08 million was spent in the last three years. Contribution from donors and government stood at 51% and 49%, respectively. Similarly, in the infrastructure sector, $263.53 million was recommended while $363.58 million was spent.
In the health sector, PCNA recommended $15.50 million while $245.27 million was actually spent in the last three years. Of this, government funding accounted for 80% of the investment while donors contributed the remaining 20%.
‘Reasons unknown’
Shedding light on the matter, a senior government official told The Express Tribune the report suggested what improvements were needed to meet the post-crisis challenges confronting the region.
Wishing not to be named, the official said the investment was not in line with the plans, which resulted in gross discrepancies in various sectors.
An official at the K-P Civil Secretariat’s planning and development department also acknowledged the funds were not used efficiently and some sectors were over prioritized. He blamed the erstwhile Awami National Party led government for the anomaly.
“Preparations for fiscal year 2014-2015 are under way. It (the recommendations) will be conveyed to the incumbent government to ponder over diverting funds for proper utilization after recommendations from the planning and development department,” he added.
When asked why funds from foreign donors indicate lesser investment in the three-year period under review, the official denied it was due to a trust deficit between the government and donors.
“The provincial government lacks the capacity for proper investment,” he said, claiming foreign donors have pledged and accordingly provided a hefty sum ranging between $80 million to 90 million under the Governing Support Programme, but only a portion of it has been handed over for investment.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.
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