District governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received only Rs 15.13 billion out of the total planned amount of Rs 30 billion for the year. The provincial government allocated an amount of Rs 42 billion for District Development Program. However, the District governments could only plan for 30 billion rupees as 12 billion allocated to districts included the schemes which were ongoing. The provincial government is struggling in realising 2015-16 budget estimates revenue and has to cut down its development budget.
According to the analysis of Center for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA), 15.13 billion rupees have been released under District ADP out of the total Rs 30 billion allocated budget for districts. Village councils and neighbourhood councils have received Rs 6.5 billion out of Rs 13.1 billion allocation, tehsils/town councils have received Rs 4.2 billion out of Rs 8.5 billion while district councils have received Rs 4.3 billion out of Rs 8.5 billion allocation. The funds were distributed under provincial finance commission formula which comprises 60% on population, 20% on backwardness and 20% on lag in infrastructure.
Provision to Districts under ADP scheme No PS15000373, budget estimates were 8.5 billion but could only get 4.3 billion. According to the PFC, excluding Torghar, Kohistan is the most backward district of KP securing 1.97% out of total 20% under backwardness followed by Shangla which is 1.26% of the total. On the other hand, Peshawar secured 6.83% out of 60% under the population head followed by Mardan 4.93% and Swat 4.25%. Similarly Peshawar secured 2.1% under lag in infrastructure out of 20% followed by Mardan and Swat securing 1.23% each.
The overall distribution among the three tiers of local government ie VCs/NCs, Tehsils and Districts in terms of funds per district remained as; Peshawar Rs 1,516 million, Mardan Rs 1089 million, Swat Rs 964 million, Mansehra Rs 795 million, Swabi Rs 792 million, Charsadda Rs 786 million, DI Khan Rs 716 million, Abbottabad Rs 710 million, Nowshera Rs 684 million, Dir Lower Rs 649 million, Kohat Rs 598 million, Haripur Rs 596 million, Bannu Rs 565 million, Dir Upper Rs 526 million, Bunner Rs 459 million, Laki Marwat Rs 458 million, Shangla Rs 455 million, Kohistan Rs 440 million, Malakand Rs 392 million, Karak Rs 386 million, Battagram Rs 345 million, Chitral Rs 339 million, Hangu Rs 315 million, Tank Rs 291 million and Torghar Rs 263 million respectively.
CGPA Programme Manager, Malik Masood stated that the district ADP has been reduced owing to the provincial revenue shortfall. However, the revised allocations are yet to be determined for district ADP. He demanded the KP government to realistically estimate revenue estimates ahead of 2016-17 budget as the provincial government is facing shortages in its own provincial estimated revenues in 2015-16 budget, beside the shortages in receipts from federal consolidated funds. He also urged the provincial government not to cut down the district ADP as it will discourage the local governments. The Government shall also improve its timely utilisation capacity of development funds, demanded Masood.
Comments
Comments are closed.