Thrust to be made on completion of ongoing schemes: CM

F.P. Report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah said that thrust will be made on the completion of on-going schemes in the next financial year. “We may hardly include a few new schemes otherwise focus will be given on the completion of on-going development works,” he added.

The Chief Minister said this while chairing two different meetings with Finance and Planning & Development Departments, said a statement. The Chief Minister also chaired a joint meeting of Finance, P&D and Irrigation and Works Departments to chalk out a strategy for the next development budget.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his focus on the next budget will  be on the completion of water supply, sanitation and school schemes.

He directed the Planning and Development Department to conduct a survey to assess and evaluate the impact of the development of road network, bridges on River Indus and hospitals on the life of the people.

“We must know what have done and what we have to do to create convenience for the people of Sindh,” he said.

Murad said that the provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP) during the current closing financial year was Rs230 billion against which expenditures up to end of April 2019 have been recorded Rs72.88 billion. This utilization would go up to Rs130-40 billion by the end of June.

Adding that the road network had an allocation of Rs56.6 billion against which they have utilized Rs27.8 billion. Similarly, Irrigation sector has utilized Rs17.8 billion against their allocation of Rs35.8 billion. He added that road and irrigation sectors have utilized Rs45.66 billion, which formed 64 percent of their total expenditures. 

The chief minister also pointed out that the Water and Sanitation had Rs42.5 billion allocation but they utilized Rs 6.5 billion. The health department utilized Rs 4.3 billion against an allocation of Rs 15.8 billion, education utilized Rs 5.9 billion against an allocation of Rs 15.8 billion.

He added that declining trend of utilization of development funds was reported for two different reasons, the first one was less releases due to financial crunch and the other one was the reluctance of the officers.

“We have tried our best to develop confidence among the officers so that they can utilize the available funds,” he said. Minister for Works Syed Nasir Shah told the meeting that 326 roads sector schemes of Rs25.8 billion were launched against which Rs21.4 billion were released and the expenditures were Rs16.8 billion.  

He said that out of 109 schemes 70 would be completed in Hyderabad and Sukkur regions. He requested that the next ADP of Works & Service Department may be increased by 40 percent, on which, the Chief Minister said that it was not possible. “I will try to increase your next year’s ADP to some extent, otherwise funds will be allocated only for the completion of on-going schemes,” he said.

Chairperson P&D Naheed Shah told the meeting that second draft of the next year ADP from different departments has been received and would be reviewed as per financial allocation. They would be finalized with the approval of the Chief Minister.

The Irrigation Department also proposed to construct long canal embankments and dock bungalows but the Chief Minister said that they would be approved if the financial position of the government was improved.