KARACHI – The cash-strapped Sindh government would get at least Rs 9 billion foreign assistance for its developmental projects during the upcoming fiscal year of 2011-12, it has been learnt. Reliable sources in the Sindh Finance Department told Pakistan Today that the loans would be provided by international donors including Japan, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) for supporting the provincial government’s various ongoing and new development schemes under the Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2011-12.
The economic assistance would include grants, loans and supplier’s credits to the Sindh government under the agreements signed by the authorities, while the grant amount would also be included in the forthcoming Sindh Budget 2011-12. Under the financial assistance by donors, Sindh would get around Rs 2 billion as additional financing for On-Farm Water Management Project, Rs 2 billion in the Japan-assisted Rural Road Construction Project Phase-II, Rs 850 million from ADB for the Coastal Community Development Project, Rs 1.9 billion from ADB for the Cities Improvement Programme and Rs 3 billion for the Water Sector Improvement Project.
Recently, the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) had forwarded letter No F.6(1)-EAD/R&S/AC-B/10 to the provincial government asking for 2011-12 budget estimates, in respect of the foreign aid disbursement required for the funded projects included in the ADP.
The provincial government had estimated Rs 9 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2011-12, keeping in view the trend of aid utilisation.
Meanwhile, the financial grant of at least Rs 4.917 billion for the province’s On-Farm Water Management Project will end in the next fiscal year, while there would also be no funds for the World Bank’s Thar Coal and Power Technical Assistance Project.
