Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) has urged the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to expedite utilisation of development budgets allocated under Annual Development Programme (ADP). Out of total allocation of Rs140.23 Billion under KP ADP for 2014-15, Only Rs17.86 Billion, 12.7% of the total ADP, utilised as on January 2, 2015.
KP government has released about Rs 64 billion under the ADP as on January 2, 2015. CGPA urged KP government to expedite the utilisation of development funds for improving social indicators in KP. CGPA has further stated that if this trend continues, KP government will not be able to utilise whole ADP, which can result in lapses of development funds.
CGPA analysis of utilisation of development budget for the first six months of fiscal years 2014-15 depicts that only 6.7% elementary and secondary education development budgets was utilised as in first six months. Out of total Rs19.9 billion development budget for elementary and secondary education, only Rs1.34 was utilised as on January 2, 2015. Despite the fact that almost 2.5 million children are out of schools in the province, the KP government inability to spend development budgets efficiently and effectively is adding to the gravity of the education challenges.
Allocation for Roads was Rs17.25 billion in 2014-15 ADP. The utilisation under the roads till January 2, 2015 was Rs2.53 billion which is 14.7% of total development budgets for roads. Regional Development, which covers some discretionary funds, was allocated Rs17.08 billion. The actual utilisation under regional development has been only 2.41 billion, which is 14.15% of total development budget.
Similarly, for health sector Rs11.29 billion was allocation in 2014-15 ADP but only Rs1.10 billion, 9.82% of total health ADP, utilised as on January 2, 2015. CGPA demanded that more funds shall be allocated for provision of medical equipment and medicine to hospitals, which can improve the performance of health sector in KP.
Similarly development budget utilisation in the other sectors also remained low as Agriculture 11.7%, Auqaf & Religious Affairs 7.8%, Building 19.5%, Drinking water and sanitation 11.9%, Energy and Power 20.6%, Environment 7.5%, Finance 15.5%, Food 5.6%, Forestry 25.6%, Higher Education 19%, Home 13.9%, Housing 6.7%, Industries 3%, Information 19.6%, labour 0.7%, Law and Justice 12.8%, Mines and Minerals 5.8%, Population Welfare 8.9%, Pro Poor Special Initiatives 6.7%, Research and Development 12.9%, Social Welfare 9.5%, Sports, Tourism & Archaeology 23%, ST & IT 4%, Transport 3.3%, Urban Development 14.9 %, Water 13.7%, while no funds has been utilised under District ADP and Relief and Rehabilitation.
CGPA Programme Manager, Malik Masood demanded KP government to ensure efficient and accountable mechanisms for improving ADP spending. The government shall follow the budget rules and start planning ahead for development projects for the next year ADP to avoid such delay in 2015-16. The government shall improve its utilisation capacity through efficient mechanism and use of information technology. Furthermore, the government shall devolve powers to districts through holding local government elections so 35% ADP, as promised, can be used at local level.