September 10, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 2, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Sept 9: The district government initiated 314 development projects during its first year in office at a cost of Rs168.34 million, most of which are yet to be completed, officials told Dawn here on Monday.

A summary prepared by the Works and Services department of the district government showed that most of the work had been carried out in the education and health sectors.

Under Khushal Pakistan Programme, Rs29.833 million was allocated for 49 education and health sector projects.

The officials said in the education sector, 30 additional classroom and lavatories blocks, buildings for 12 shelterless schools and construction of boundary wall for seven girl schools were undertaken, while in the health sector laundry was constructed at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Taxila.

Rawalpindi and Kotli Sattian Tehsils were the main beneficiaries of the allocation made under this head as they bagged 19 and 17 projects respectively. The amount the two Tehsils were provided was almost identical and the two got Rs11.6 million each.

Of the 50 projects undertaken, only 10 have been completed while the rest are said to be under progress.

In the roads sector, 61-km road network was planned at a cost of Rs75.857 million. Rawalpindi Tehsil was to get maximum as 22.5km roads were to be constructed here, followed by Gujar Khan and Kahuta Tehsils that were to get 19kms each.

Though the officials could not fully say about the state of work, but from the amounts released it can be inferred that less than 50 per cent work has so far been done on the ground.

About 67 education and 120 health sector projects were undertaken under the Social Action Programme, which was aimed at providing facilities to schools and health care outlets.

Both health and education sectors got an equal allocation of Rs17 million each.

The works carried out under this head included provision of building for seven shelterless schools, construction of boundary wall and lavatory blocks for girl schools, electrification of basic health units and providing water supply facilities at the schools and BHUs.

Rawalpindi and Gujar Khan Tehsils again dominated by being the main beneficiaries of the SAP projects.

Another 33 shelterless schools were constructed under the President Programme for Rehabilitation and the Education Sector Reforms. The highest number of such projects were initiated in Rawalpindi (20) and Gujar Khan (five).

These projects seem to have not fully kicked off, as the funds utilization report shows that hardly any significant amount had been spent till July 31.