Planning ahead: CM asks for ‘public-oriented’ development plan for next fiscal year

On-going schemes to be given top priority this time.

KARACHI: Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah has issued directives to frame the next annual development programme (ADP) 2015-16, terming it a promising, pragmatic and public-oriented agenda that gives top priority to the social sector.

The chief minister (CM) issued these directives while presiding over a meeting with members of the finance and planning and development departments at CM House on Saturday. The participants included finance minister Murad Ali Shah, planning and development additional chief secretary Muhammad Wasim, principal secretary to the CM Alamuddin Bullo and finance secretary Sohail Rajput.

The chief minister asserted that the social sector be given top priority in the next ADP. "The new ADP should be a reflection of our party leadership's guidelines, the collective wisdom of our planners and financial managers and in accordance with the aspirations and hopes of our people," he said.

Shah told the team that the allocation of funds should be made in such a way that the carry-forward of funds may be reduced. "Priority should be given to the completion of on-going schemes," he said. "The size of the ADP should be made according to the availability of funds."

In the next year, no schemes will be funded outside the budget. Therefore, all the departments should be directed to get their schemes approved at the earliest, said the CM.

Education

The assistant chief secretary, Waseem, said that a scheme worth Rs1.3 billion for the establishment of five public schools in Sanghar, Tando Muhammad, Tando Allahyar, Ghotki and Matiari would be completed if Rs668.4 million were released in the beginning of the next financial year. On this, the chief minister directed the finance minister to allocate the amount suggested by the planning and development department so that the five public schools can be completed.

Speaking about the status of the Cadet College for Girls at Shaheed Benazirabad project that was started in 2008 at a projected cost of Rs1.9 billion, Waseem said that Rs113.1 million had been allocated in the current financial year. The project could be completed if Rs1.2 billion were allocated in the next year. The chief minister approved the proposal and directed the finance department to arrange the requisite funds to complete it by June 2015.

Agriculture

Waseem explained that the World Bank-assisted Sindh Agriculture growth project was launched in 11 districts at a cost of Rs8.9 billion. The five-year programme will be completed in 2018.

He said that a Rs3 billion scheme had been initiated to provide 1,000 tractors to farmers. For the current financial year, Rs1 billion were allocated. On this, the chief minister directed Waseem to allocate the entire remaining amount in the next ADP so that the project will be completed by June 2015. "Our farmers have suffered a lot and they must be rehabilitated through such schemes," said the CM.

Board of revenue

Waseem told the chief minister that the Rs5 billion scheme for the 'Development of 50,000 townships' in major urban centres by distributing 120 square-yard plots has been allocated Rs1.1 billion during the current financial year. The CM directed the finance minister to arrange substantial funds for the scheme so it could be completed by June 2016.

Waseem will give another briefing to the chief minister on the remaining schemes in the education sector, the K-4 water supply scheme, S-3 Karachi drainage scheme and other projects on Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2015.