Rs24.5 billion ADP devised for speedy uplift of AJK: PM.

Muzaffarabad -- Prime Minister (PM) Raja Farooq Haider-led Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has presented its annual budget proposal in the house with a record outlay of Rs 139.5 billion for the next fiscal year of 2020-21.

According to an official post-budget statement issued by the AJK government on Friday, the state administration had proposed Rs 115 billion for recurring expenditures and Rs 24.5 billion for Annual Development Program (ADP).

Total 14.8 percent increase on the current years' budget has been proposed by the government in the next fiscal year. However, the development expenditures proposed in the budget were the same as in ongoing fiscal year of 2019-20.

The proposed ADP showed 42 percent allocation in Communication and Works, 11 percent Local Government and Rural Development, 10 percent Education, 10 percent Electricity, 9 percent Physical Planning and Housing, 5 percent Foreign Aid Projects, 4 Percent Health and 9 percent in other productive sectors. Rs 2.92 billion ware earmarked under the Ministry for Kashmir Affairs' Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for AJK Legislative Assembly Complex, Medical College Muzaffarabad, Mirpur-Lesswa Keran by-passes and Rathuwa Haryam Bridge Projects. Another new and mega project amounting to 3.6 billion rupees for the rehabilitation of Indian firing affectees included in the PSDP.

22 billion rupees were also provided for other important projects like Poonch University, Women University Bagh, Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Generation Project, Authmuqam Kail-Tao Butt Road, and other federal ministries.

Rs 3 billion have been proposed for the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction program in the quake hit areas of the state.

It is worth mentioning here that 199 development projects were completed in the current fiscal year. 72 percent funds' allocation has been proposed in the budget 2020-21 for the completion of ongoing development schemes. 199 more projects would be completed in the next fiscal year. 28 percent funds' allocation proposed for the new ADP projects.

According to the ADP of the budget proposal, 9 percent allocation was proposed for the social sector, 19 percent for the production and 72 percent for the infrastructure.

The projects of the extension phase II, Divisional Hospital with 500 beds strength, 200 beds capacity General Hospital Rawalakot and THQ Pattikha Phase I were also included in the next ADP. Moreover, construction of hostels for doctors and nurses with DHQ...