Sindh ADP 2012-13: government spends only Rs 24.876 billion out of Rs 161 billion allocations

Despite the passage of more than seven months of the fiscal year 2012-13, Sindh Government could spend only Rs 24.876 billion out of the total Rs 161 billion allocations for Annual Development Programme (ADP). Well-informed sources in Finance Department told Business Recorder that the authorities of Finance and Planning and Development (P&D) department have informed a high level meeting about the release and utilisation of funds on various ADP 2012-13 projects.
The meeting was held at Chief Minister's House with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in the chair. Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister Information Sharjeel Enam Memon, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Arif Ahmed Khan, ACS (Finance) Naveed Kamran Baloch and other relevant officers attended the meeting.
Sources said that although ADP 2012-13 was approved by Sindh Assembly along with provincial budget but Finance department used to release all funds allocated for ADP projects after September of every year. Same practice was followed in FY 2012-13 and the Finance department started releasing funds after September 2012, sources said. But the concerned departments have failed to fully utilise the allocated funds.
A handout issued here from CM House said that Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah presided a joint meeting of Finance and P&D departments at Chief Minister House. The Chief Minister directed the departments concerned to fully concentrate on completion of maximum development schemes in the province particularly in the sectors of health, education, irrigation and works & Services.
He said that a separate meeting of heads of those departments would be held tomorrow, so as to finalise the schemes near to completion, to be completed within one month. Chief Minister Sindh while attending detailed briefing of P&D department directed the officials to prioritise and make concerted efforts to take up schemes particularly of health, education, communication & works and coal & energy sectors.
He also called emergent meeting of important departments and heads of the departments would attend the meeting. The meeting will rationalise those schemes which can be completed within a period of one month, while efforts will be made to complete ongoing important and schemes. Shah added that schemes initiated in Qasimabad, Hyderabad particularly the drainage project be completed early and roads be constructed there later.
He said that schemes under MPA's special programme pertaining to village electrification and provision of gas in villages be completed in maximum. The meeting was informed that with regard to 1323 new schemes, out of allocated amount, Rs 46.966 billion have been released and so far Rs 13.625 billion have been spent.