Social sector, agriculture to be focused in next budget, says CM Reviews development projects

Karachi The Sindh government is likely to allocate ‘maximum funds’ to health, education and agriculture in the next budget, said Chief Minister Sindh onWednesday. Qaim, who was chairing a meeting on the 2012-13 budget, also proposed a number of mega-projects and public welfare schemes for the Annual Development Programme (ADP). “Emphasis should bemade in allocating funds for development of rural and deprived areas and for the main schemes of urban centres,” he said. Shah also directed for all arrangements be made for the finalization of the budget. Themeeting was attended by additional chief secretary planning and development department Malik Israr, secretary planning Dr. Noor and other officers of the planning, development and finance departments. In a related development, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas chaired a meeting at the Sindh Secretariat to review progress of the ADP. Abbas directed the departments to avoid any delays in the completion of the projects and to submit weekly reports on the progress of the uplift schemes.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the schemes of the irrigation department and the works and services department for the outgoing financial year 2011-12. SecretaryWorks and Services Department Alam Din informed themeeting therewere some 589 schemes, ofwhich 147were new, with an estimated cost of Rs10.750 billion that had been allocated to his department. He said that out of the allocated funds, around Rs8484 million had been released, and Rs6.398 billion had been spent between July 2011 and April 2012. He also said that some 118 schemes are expected to be completed shortly. Secretary Irrigation Department Baber Effendi informed the meeting that his departmentwas carrying out around 84 schemes with estimated cost of Rs3.136 billion. He said about 35 of these schemes were near completion, and were being monitored effectively.

The chief secretary reminded the officials that it was imperative that the uplift projects be completed by 30th June 2012. Abbas also directed officials of the planning and development department submit a detailed report on the progress of development schemes all departments within one week. In another related development, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmad Khuhro on Wednesday called on Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah at CM House, where the two leaders reviewed the development work of Sindh Assembly building, and discussed the government’s four-year performance and the report on the Sindh Government presented by the Chief Minister Sindh during a recent session of the Sindh Assembly.

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