Federal government ignores 61 modest uplift projects: National Assembly body voices concern

The federal government has ignored as many as 61 small development projects at an estimated cost of Rs 2 billion for health and education sectors. Even donor agency (government of Germany) surrendered Rs 683 million for delaying Establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Services Project due to incompetence and lack of co-ordination between the federal and provincial governments.
National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, which met under the Chairmanship of Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan on Wednesday expressed serious concern regarding delay in Establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Services Project and directed the Capital Administration and Development Division (CA&DD) to pursue the case in Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to sign the agreement with donor for second phase so that the project could be completed without further delay.
The education and health sectors of the Capital are under the CA&DD. According to documents available with Business Recorder, the Finance Ministry did release funds for 21 approved projects relating to development and establishment of new schools and colleges of Islamabad.
The projects, which were approved in tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) but whose funds were not released are (i) up-lifting of Islamabad Model College for Boys, F-10/4, Rs 48 million, (ii) up-lifting of Islamabad Model College for Boys, Bhara Kahu, Rs 56.4 million, (iii) up-lifting of Islamabad Model College for Boys, G-9/4, Rs 58.3 million, (iv) Cost of Land for Establishment of Islamabad Model School for Girls, Rs 13 million, (v) Establishment of Islamabad Model School, Model Town Humal Zimni, Islamabad, Rs 52.86 million, (vi) Establishment of Islamabad Model School, Rawal Town, Islamabad, Rs 50.4 million, (vii) Capacity Building for Science Teachers under Public Sector Educational Institution of ICT, FATA, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, Rs 58.1 million and (viii) up-gradation of computer labs of National Institute of Science and Technical Education Islamabad, Rs 33 million etc.
The documents further revealed that as many as 40 projects relating to health and education sectors were not approved. The projects are ; (i) Critical Needs of Equipments at Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, Rs 55 million, (ii)up-gradation of existing electric supply/distribution system of Polyclinic Hospital, Rs 57 million, (iii) strengthening of maternal and Child Health Care Service Polyclinic Hospital, Rs 35 million, (iv) renovation and construction of Male Doctor's Hospital at Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, Rs 48 million, (v) establishment of as many as 15 urban family health services of each cost Rs 59.785 million, and (vi) establishment of Family Health Centers at Tarnol, Pir Sohawa, Bhara Kahu, Letrar, Aihala of each cost Rs 59.4 million etc.
The Standing Committee also discussed the private Members Bills and budgetary proposals of PSDP of CA&DD & Cabinet Division for financial year 2016-17. The Committee discussed The Special Citizens Bill, 2015 (moved by Ms Beleum Hsanain, MNA) in detail. It was pointed out that Committee had already passed a Bill of identical nature, therefore, the Committee unanimously recommended that the subject Bill may be dropped to avoid replication of the existing legislation.
The Committee discussed "The Islamabad Compulsory Civic Education Bill, 2015 and Compulsory Blood Test for Relatives of Thalasamia Patients Bill, 2014 in detail. The committee directed the CA&DD to hold a meeting with movers of both the bills to determine line of action on the bills and submit the report within 30 days so that committee could consider them accordingly.
The committee discussed the budgetary proposals of CA&D Division for the financial year 2016-17 and expressed concerns over unnecessary delay of ongoing projects especially establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Services Project amounting to Rs 683 million which was started in 2010. The committee, therefore, deferred the budgetary proposals of CA&DD till its next meeting.