With a view to improving the access of villages to market and modernising road network in rural areas, the Punjab government has allocated an amount of Rs 27.0 billion in budget 2016-17 for 'Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Program'. The 'Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme' has been designed to improve and modernise road network in rural areas to facilitate transportation of agriculture produce from farm to market. This will not only help in better farming activities but also be helpful in stimulating rural economy, sources said.
It may be added that roads are the predominant mode of transport in the country commuting more than 90% of the passengers and freight traffic with an average yearly growth rate of 4.5% and 10.5%, respectively. The sources claim that strategies for road sector development in the province of Punjab have been focusing on consolidation and maintenance of the existing assets, which include a vast network of provincial highways, intra & inter district roads, and the communication links comprising rural access and farm-to-market roads. In addition, the province's road sector development portfolio also includes major urban and intra city road projects.
In FY 2015-16, Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Road Programme Phase I and II were completed under which roads of over 3500-km were rehabilitated across the province. Moreover, Punjab's Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) envisions the public building sector's role as constructing and maintaining residential and office accommodation facilities in the public sector. It renders functionally adequate services in most cost-effective manner in order to ensure conducive environment for an efficient public service system.
The sources said the public buildings sector contributes to economy in manifold manners. First of all, it provides basic and essential infrastructure to the government for its working. The government requires the public offices & official residences as essential physical resources to carry out its functions/operations. Proper functioning of the government results in systematic management of social, economic and political systems. A well-managed country gains prosperity and development through its well-managed governing system through public buildings.
Furthermore, spending on public buildings also triggers demand and contributes towards economic growth and revival. It also generates wide-range employment opportunities. Its multiple effects on the economy are demonstrated through the wide-ranging potential of the construction activities in generating industrial production, developing small and medium enterprises, creating self employment opportunities, flourishing business, commerce and trade activities and at the same time enhancing utilisation of indigenous natural and man-made resources. In addition to above, it also contributes significantly in fostering social cohesion and environmental improvements.
Targets and major Initiatives fixed for 2016-17 include: completion of 36 police stations and partial completion of 53 police stations, capacity strengthening and project development/management of Police department, 20 Nos schemes of Counter Terrorism Department, 7 No child protection institutes, 4 No District Jails, 4 no schemes of Governor's House Lahore, 6 Nos. Border Military Police Stations and 3 Nos. of schemes of C&W have been provided with ample funding against their approved cost.
In the FY 2015-16, 423 schemes were initiated that were allocated Rs 9.14 billion. Out of the total schemes, 251 schemes were ongoing with an allocation of Rs 6.464 billion and 172 schemes were new with an allocation of Rs 2.676 billion, but due to partial/thin allocation to ongoing and new schemes, majority of the schemes remained incomplete. This also resulted in huge financial throw forward. In order to overcome this problem and to operationalise on-going schemes, schemes, which achieved up to 60 percent completion, have been allocated full funds. On this analogy, completion of 131 schemes, out of 423 schemes on-going schemes is being achieved in ADP 2015-16.
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