LAHORE: In the budget 2021-22, the Punjab government has proposed over Rs360 billion for the District Development Package (DDP) under which funds will be spent on development schemes identified by the local stakeholders and district coordination committees comprising district functionaries.

As per the budget document, the DDP is another key initiative of Annual Development Programme ADP 2021-22 that will address challenges of service delivery, rehabilitation and improvement of infrastructure, creation of job opportunities for the unemployed and excluded groups. It may be mentioned that the total allocation for the DPP is a part of the Rs560 billion ADP.

"The schemes identified under DDP reflect immediate needs of the community, particularly pertaining to roads (construction and rehabilitation), sewerage, street/pavement, provision of water supply, improvement and establishment of health and education facilities. A substantial importance has also been given to the establishment of higher education institutions at the district and tehsil level," it added.

The package will be implemented with a budget of Rs360 billion over the next three years by the line departments under the supervision of the district administration. Around 3,600 schemes have been prioritized in all districts of the Punjab.

Of the total proposed allocation, Rs146,403 million has been allocated for 1138 schemes related to roads and bridges, Rs57,335 million for 1075 water supply and sanitation and urban development schemes, Rs26,507 million for 752 local government and community development schemes, Rs33,924 million for 342 education-related schemes, Rs18,692 million for 197 health related schemes, Rs3,806 million for 23 agriculture and irrigation schemes, Rs2,015 million for 31 sports and tourism schemes and Rs6,284 million for 47 schemes in other category.

The major projects/initiatives planned are Nishtar-II Hospital Multan at a cost of Rs8,842 million, Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority at a cost of Rs6,322 million, Mother and Child Hospital in Mianwali at a cost of Rs4,783 million, Institute of Urology and Transplantation in Rawalpindi at cost of Rs4,370 million, Dera Ghazi Khan Institute of Cardiology at a cost of Rs4,285 million, CPE Institute of Cardiology in Multan at a cost of Rs3,147 million, Up-gradation of THQ Hospital in Taunsa at a cost of Rs1,201 million, 10 sewerage schemes for southern Punjab at a cost of Rs2,817 million, rehabilitation/improvement of sewerage system in Jhang at a cost of Rs1,262 million, and promotion of high value agriculture through solarisation of drip and sprinkler irrigation system at a cost of Rs1,929 million.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021