First seven months of FY11-12: Sindh government utilises hardly 14 percent of total ADP allocations

Sindh government utilised just Rs16 billion (14 percent) out of the total Rs111 billion allocations of Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2011-12 during seven months of the current fiscal year, July 2011 to January 2012.
Well-informed sources in Planning and Development department told Business Recorder on Wednesday that Food, Industries, Tourism and Minorities Affairs departments even did not utilise a single penny of their ADP allocations.
They said that Co-operation, Environment and Human Rights departments had not yet submitted their reports regarding utilisation of funds to the Planning and Development department.
Education department spent Rs0.72 billion out of the released Rs1.14 billion funds, Health spent Rs0.97 billion out of the released Rs2.15 billion, Agriculture department spent Rs0.16 billion out of the released Rs1.12 billion and Livestock spent just Rs50.50 million out of the released Rs540 millions.
Board of Investment (BOI) spent only Rs10 millions out of Rs60 millions, Culture department spent Rs20.70 millions out of Rs110 millions and Sindh Information department just spent Rs29 lacs out of Rs10 millions, sources disclosed.
Meanwhile a handout issued here said that Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah presided over a high level meeting here on Wednesday to review the progress on implementation of development schemes.
The meeting was attended among others by Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Israr Malik, Special Secretary Finance Sohail Rajut, Secretary to CM Sindh HafeezuIlah Abbasi, Special Secretary (Development) Dr Noor, and others.
The meeting was informed that there were total 1737-schemes in the province, which include 1244-ongoing schemes and 493-new schemes. It was further informed that the Annual Development Programme of the province was Rs111 billion and due to heavy rains in the province, the process of development was badly affected.
It was informed that as such only Rs42.29 billion were released as yet out of which just Rs16 billion were utilised. With regard to position, it was informed that 37 percent funds have released and special focus has been given to maintain infrastructure, construction of roads and provision of clean drinking water in rain affected areas.
The chief minister directed the relevant officers to initiate and complete maximum development schemes within limits of budgetary allocation, and quality of works be maintained.