The Sindh government has announced a consolidated Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Rs161 billion for 2011-12. In terms of the break-up, the total development portfolio of the province would be at Rs131 billion, which includes Rs20 billion for the district governments of the province. Besides the additional funds worth Rs20 billion, other than the ADP, is expected to be received from the federal government in grants and foreign project assistance. Rs9.7 billion would be provided by the center for federally-funded projects.
The budget documents showed that for the first time the Sindh government, realizing the gravity of the situation of old funding practice, has gone through the rationalization process. As a result the total number of schemes which have not been included in the ADP 2011-2012 stands at 710 out of a total 1766 schemes in last year’s ADP.
However, these exclusions have created fiscal space for new schemes in ADP 2011-2012. The process of rationalizing the ADP is continuing with full funding being provided to schemes that have spent 75 per cent or more. It is expected that about 250 schemes will be completed in the next fiscal year. Budget document shows a commitment to coal-based power generation and has allocated Rs3710.937 million to the project.
The provincial government announced major scheme for the rehabilitation of 200 flood affected villages consisting of 40,000 houses with an allocation of Rs2 billion. Since, the floods caused major damage to the road network in the preceding year, the government has made a substantial allocation of Rs11000 million for the roads which is 7.2 percent of overall development budget.
To boost the agriculture sector, which is inclusive of food, livestock and fisheries, funds of Rs6.053 billion have been allocated. Another Rs1.145 billion have been allocated for ongoing schemes to help farmers. A scheme for establishment of Bhambore Dairy Village & Processing Zone for Meat Animals with public private partnership at district Thatta has been provided. To overcome lack of availability of potable water, a scheme to establish clean drinking water hubs has been included in the budget.
Under the special packages for the various districts an amount of Rs2 billion has been earmarked for Karachi Package, Rs600 million for Hyderabad Package, Rs660 million for Lyari Package, Rs2 billion for Larkana Package, and Rs2 billion allocated for Benazirabad package, the hometown of President Asif Ali Zardari.
The Sindh government has also included a low-cost housing scheme for the marginalized section of the society to be developed through SLMDCL. A piece of land measuring 450 acres in the Hawkes Bay area has been allotted free of cost in the name of the project. Under the plan at least 10,000 low-cost houses of 120 each would be provided to the less privileged. The budget allots Rs3.251 billion to agriculture sector, Rs6.053 billion for food, Rs697 million for forest, Rs697.305 million for wildlife and CDA, Rs1000 million for industries, Rs141.915 million for Sindh Board of Investment, Rs 358 million for mines and mineral development, Rs 3.8 billion for water and drainage, Rs 3.710 billion for coal and energy, Rs 4.175 billion for physical planning and housing building, Rs 11 billion for transport and communication, Rs 7.733 billion for education, Rs 6.93 billion for health, Rs 403 million for sports, youth affairs, Rs 400 million for culture, Rs 191.840 million for tourism, Rs 114 million for manpower and employment, Rs 100 million for information and archives, Rs 240 million Auqaf, Rs 30 million for cooperation, Rs 110 million for minorities affairs, Rs 1.971 billion for statistical and economic research, Rs 155.466 million for social welfare, Rs 317.847 million for women development, Rs 1.396 billion for science and information technology, Rs 200 million for environment, Rs 7.72 billion for priority programmes, Rs 10 billion for special packages, Rs 316 million for rural development, Rs 427 million for antiquities, Rs 100 million for human rights, Rs 3 billion allocated for directives, Rs 19.3 billion for special initiatives unit, Rs 14144 million for special projects, Rs 1.395 billion for matching allocation, Rs 3367.898 million for devolved projects.
