Rs 213.6 billion development outlay for Fiscal Year 2016

The Sindh government on Saturday announced a total Rs 213.6 billion development outlay for next fiscal year 2015-16 (FY16), which is even less than the actual estimates of Rs 215.3 billion for the current fiscal year (FY15). However, the development outlay for the next fiscal year is some Rs 59 billion or 38 percent higher than revised estimates of Rs 154.5 billion for the current fiscal year.
According to the budget documents, out of Rs 214 billion, some Rs 162 billion will be funded by the Provincial Resources, Rs 9.6 billion will come from grants by the federal government and Rs 27 billion is estimated to come as Foreign Project Assistance. While Rs 15 billion will be financed by Viability Gap Funding.
Keeping in view ever-growing throw forward of development schemes, the government of Sindh has decided to continue with its policy of allocation of 80 percent of development funds to the ongoing schemes and only 20 percent for important new schemes and special initiatives. Moreover, it is ensured that, at least, 25 percent of the total cost of the scheme is allocated for each new scheme in the ADP. The number of schemes in ADP has been reduced but the allocations for each scheme have been increased. As a result of this policy, the throw forward of development schemes has been reduced from Rs 704 billion on 1st July 2014 to Rs 552 billion on 1st July 2015 by 21.3 percent.
The Sindh government has decided to focus on the improvement of the overall service delivery through development of social service sectors of education and health; economic sectors of energy, communications and irrigation; and social protection sectors of empowerment of women and protection of minorities and children. Notwithstanding these sectoral priorities that none of the sectors will be neglected. This reflects the government''''s resolve to bring a significant improvement in the life of the common man by focusing on the short-term and long-term development of the province.
Planning and Development Department, with the assistance of Administrative Departments, has developed sectoral plans for key departments of government of Sindh. These include plans for education, health, agriculture, irrigation, communications and energy sectors.