The Punjab government on Friday allocated Rs 345 billion for annual development programme (ADP) 2014-15 which for the first time is a part of the development vision and strategy prepared for the next four years by the development agencies that will see the government through its entire term in office.
The development strategy mainly prepared by the Planning and Development Department (P&D) is based upon the issues faced by the province with an objective to improve growth rate from current 5 per cent to 8 percent by 2018 when the PML-N government would call next elections.
The issues identified by the P&D and all the concerned departments include energy crisis in the province, development of water resources, skill development, improvement in social sector and governance.
Sources in P&D disclosed that for the first time the government has prepared a budget according to a development strategy spreading over coming four years with a plan to improve GDP figure from present 5 percent to 8 percent in 2018 when the government would complete its tenure.
The main feature of the ADP is a massive allocation for the southern Punjab with 36 percent of ADP being allocated for the under-developed region of the province. With increased allocation for South Punjab new universities and colleges would be established in the big cities of South Punjab including Bahawalpur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan.
Though energy development has been the preserve of the federal government, the province has also committed huge resources for energy sector projects, allocating Rs. 31 billion for this particular vital sector.
Likewise, Rs 48 billion for Education, Rs. 30 billion for Health, Rs. 26 billion for production that includes agriculture, livestock, fisheries departments.
Again, for communication and urban development the government has allocated Rs 40 billion.
The government has also allocated Rs 6 billion with which it would impart skills to over 200,000 individuals. These skills will improve the job prospects of the people both inside and outside Pakistan.
