LAHORE: The Punjab government has set aside a record sum of Rs345 billion for the Annual Development Programme (ADP), an increase of 35 per cent over the outgoing year’s revised ADP of Rs224bn.
The ADP for 2014-15 includes Rs290bn for regular development, Rs40bn for ‘other development initiatives’ and Rs15bn for special initiatives.
The budget document states the main objectives of the ADP as: to overcome energy shortage, export-oriented growth, development of human capital, equitable regional development and encouraging public private partnership.
Sector-wise, infrastructure development got the major share with an allocation of Rs148.5bn, while social services fetched Rs119.4bn.
The emphasis is on completion of ongoing schemes, evident from an allocation of Rs155bn for the purpose.
In order to create regional balance, extra weightage (36 per cent) has been given to 11 districts in southern Punjab by earmarking Rs119 billion for various projects there. In the previous ADP, 32 per cent of funds had been apportioned for the southern belt.
Out of Rs119.4 billion for the social sector, education will get Rs48bn — almost twice the Rs25 billion earmarked the previous year. Provision of missing facilities, upgradation of schools, establishment of 136 new colleges, and provision of 100,000 laptops to students are the major initiatives set for the sector.
A sum of over Rs31 billion has been earmarked for health against Rs18.3 billion last year. The main projects include the establishment of a kidney and liver transplant institute and a cancer hospital.
The ADP addresses the problem of malnutrition among children, pregnant and lactating women. It proposes provision of emergency obstetrics & newborn care services in all the 36 districts of the province.
Water supply & sanitation will get Rs17 billion, social protection Rs1.8 billion, while local governments will be receiving Rs3.48 billion.
An amount of Rs31.5 billion is being allocated for building of new roads and improvement of the existing ones. Construction of farm-to-market roads .
The irrigation department will receive Rs35.5 billion for improvement of canal system and construction of New Khanki barrage, rehabilitation of Trimmu barrage and Punjnad headworks, construction of small dams in Potohar and management of hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan.
ENERGY SECTOR: An allocation of Rs31 billion has been made for the energy sector. Among the major initiatives are a 100-MW solar facility at Bahawalpur and a 1,200-MW thermal plant at Sahiwal.
Urban development will get Rs42.4 billion for implementation of 75 schemes. Some of the prominent ones are dual carriageways, flyovers, metro bus services and metro train.
Treatment of waste water of entire Lahore city will also be undertaken.
A new initiative of inland waterways transport is proposed to be launched for Lahore.
In the production sector, agriculture and livestock will be given Rs13.1 billion against Rs7.97 billion last year. New initiatives include mechanisation of farm operations, development of hybrid oil seeds, establishment of Punjab bio-energy institute and a veterinary university.
Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2014