Development budget slashed by 18pc.

Karachi -- For the second consecutive year, Sindh's development budget witnessed a sharp drop up to 18 per cent as the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led Sindh government has allocated Rs. 232.9 billion for development portfolio in the province for fiscal year 2020-21 almost Rs. 52 b less than what it allocated for the same purpose last year.

Presenting budget on floor of the house, Sindh Chief Syed Murad Ali Shah who also holds finance portfolio said that decrease in development expenditure was mainly due to provision of COVID-19 related Social Protection and Economic Sustainability package of Rs.34.2b and Rs.19b and Rs. 22.9b rise in health and education sector Rs. respectively.

The CM said that for the next financial year, the provincial departments in Sindh were earlier advised to prepare proposals for provincial Annual Development Programme at the size same as that of 2019-20 while allocating 85 percent for on-going schemes and 15 percent new schemes. However, he said, in a post Covid-19 scenario and with a reduction in federal transfers and funding for development, the total development outlay for Sindh for the next financial year 2020-21 is proposed at Rs.232.9b. An amount of Rs. 155b was allocated for provincial ADP and Rs. 15b for district ADP schemes. Murad added that Rs. 54.6 b were expected from Foreign Projects Assistance (FPA) and Rs. 8.3 billion from Federal Government in Federal PSDP for 10 schemes under execution by the Sindh government. It may be noted here that the total development budget outlay in 2018-19 was 343.9 b whereas it remained Rs. 283.5 for the current fiscal year ending in June 2020.

EDUCATION

The provincial government has allocated Rs. 21.08b for development in the education sector. The amount would be utilized for completion of 397 on-going and 11 new but unapproved schemes. Out of total allocated amount, Rs. 13.1b has been earmarked for School Education; Rs. 3.7b for College Education; Rs. 0.12b for empowerment of persons with disabilities; 0.71b for STEVTA; and Rs. 1.1b for Universities and Boards.

HEALTH

Similarly, the government earmarked Rs. 23.5b for the Health Department to which its leaders.hip claims of giving top priority. As per details, Rs. 2.9b was allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of Teaching Hospitals; Rs. 19.4b for the construction and maintenance of other hospitals; Rs. 0.72b for Medical Education; Rs...

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