As the budget preparation is in final stage, the budget makers from the finance and planning and development departments of the Sindh government are at loggerheads over fixing the volume of the budget for the fiscal year 2012-13, it is reliably learnt.
The officials of the planning and development (P&D) department have worked out the annual development plan (ADP) for the year 2012-13 however the finance department has raised objection over the development outlay, citing financial crunch as the major reason, well-placed sources told Pakistan Today.
Ironically, the officials of the P&D department became much disturbed after the finance official refused to allocate the demanded funds saying that Sindh government was facing serious financial crisis, sources added.
Under the ADP 2012-13, the finance department was requested to earmark at least Rs 185 billion for the development schemes however the finance authorities were insisting on at least Rs 150 billion for the development. Besides, at least Rs 22 billion would also be earmarked for districts governments, they disclosed.
Sources said that emphasis were being given on agriculture, livestock, water and drainage, education and health sectors with the allocation of Rs 185 billion for the ADP 2012-13. However, if the ADP is reduced major sectors would get affected as the budget makers from P&D department would be compelled to remove major schemes.
The special attention has been given to the Special Initiatives Unit with an increase in funds of at least 490 per cent, and the priority programmes that have been given an increase of at least 90 per cent. The outlay has almost been finalized by the senior authorities of the Planning and Development however the addition and deletion of schemes would take place for couple of days however the objection from finance has disturbed the authorities now busy in deleting the major development schemes.
According to the proposed ADP 2012-13 – the Special Initiatives Unit is likely to get Rs 30.650 billion, similarly the allocation for projects under priority programmes has been increased and fixed at Rs 10 billion.
Moreover, a substantial increase in funds is also expected in sectors of education (Rs 12 billion); health (Rs 11 billion); livestock (Rs 2.5 billion); agriculture (Rs 4.8 billion) allocation for directives (Rs 5 billion) water and drainage (Rs 5 billion); statistical and economic research (Rs 2 billion); and transport and communications getting Rs 13 billion.
Besides, the food sector is likely to receive Rs 400 million, fisheries Rs 1100 million; forest, wildlife and CDA Rs 850 million; industries Rs 1200 million; mines and minerals Rs 600 million; coal and energy Rs 7.988 billion; physical planning and housing Rs 5.900 billion; sports and youth affairs Rs 590 million; culture Rs 4540 million; tourism Rs 240 million; information and archives Rs 150 million; Auqaf Rs 320 million; minorities Rs 149 million; social welfare Rs 200 million; women development Rs 400 million; environment Rs 230 million; special packages Rs 13 billion; rural development Rs 415 million; antiquities Rs 515; human rights Rs 150 million; matching allocation Rs 3 billion; cooperation Rs 42 million; devolved projects Rs 5 billion and Rs 7 billion for block allocation. Moreover, more than 12 billion billions are likely to be received from international donors and agencies, including Japan, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The funds include Rs 2.5 billion as additional financing for On-Farm Water Management Project; Rs 3 billion for Japan-assisted Rural Road Construction Project Phase-II; Rs 920 million from the ADB under the Coastal Community Development Project and Rs 2 billion under the Cities Improvement Programme; and Rs 4 billion for the Water Sector Improvement Project, the sources said.
