Sindh government has approved Rs 90 billion for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2009-10, it is reliably learnt. The summary was forwarded to Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah two days back, which he approved on Thursday, according to sources. They told Business Recorder that the chief minister has approved the increased ADP funds of Rs 90 billion against last year's Rs 67 billion.
Out of total ADP funds, Rs 75 billion would be utilised by the provincial government while the remaining Rs 15 billion has been allocated for all 23 district governments. Sources said that the provincial government has earmarked some Rs 44910.106 million for various ongoing schemes in the province while Rs 30089.894 million for new schemes. The total number of development schemes stands at 1757, they added.
They said that the ADP funds were allocated on a ratio of 60:40 for ongoing and new schemes, respectively against the directives of Sindh government in March this year, which asked all the administrative departments to prepare developmental schemes for the next fiscal year projects on a ratio of 80:20.
The order that was issued to provincial departments states that all proposed schemes for the next year's ADP 2009-10 should get approval from the competent forum ie the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) and Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) by March 31 as according to the agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), no unapproved scheme be included.
The letter further said if the administrative department felt that the inclusion of certain schemes was essential then a summary for the Chief Minister has to be moved through Planning and Development Department for inclusion in the ADP, as well as allocation of funds. The ratio between ongoing and new schemes may not exceed 80:20, it added.
In next year's ADP, an amount of Rs 8.43 billion has been allocated for different schemes under special package out of which Rs 3.65 billion for Karachi, separately Rs 300 million for each Lyari and Malir towns, Rs 200 million for Keamari town, 890 million for Hyderabad, Rs 642 million for Benazirabad (Nawabshah) and Rs 1.13 billion for Larkana district, they said.
Moreover, a fund of Rs 2 billion was allocated in the next year's ADP for the development of basic infrastructure at the Thar Coal and Rs 100 million for promoting new industrial investment in Sindh. They said a huge fund of Rs 6 billion was allocated for establishment of Information Media City for Journalists and Rs 200 million for the rehabilitation of Badin district. The size of the ADP could be increased till presentation of the budget.