PESHAWAR, May 13: An amount of Rs 294 million is lying unused in the head of the Annual Development Programme. Officials’ apathy led to utilization of only Rs 87.64m during the first nine months of fiscal 2002-2003.

The ratio of utilization of the development funds on the basis of total allocation remained only 26.9 per cent whereas it happened to be 29.7 per cent on the basis of released funds, sources said.

These sources informed that the original ADP of the health sector for the financial year 2002-2003 was Rs355.1m, that was later restructured due to re-appropriation of Rs30m at the close of last calendar year. These funds, the sources added, were diverted to the Women and Children Hospital for Afghan Refugees by the finance department.

Sources said that sector-wise breakup of allocation, released and utilization showed that an amount of Rs72.418m was allocated for the general hospitals. The finance department, released all the funds embarked for this sector, but the department concerned utilized only Rs23.750m during the same period.

Likewise, out of the released amount of Rs17.25m for medical education & training, Rs8.27m have been utilized. The finance department, which released Rs29.401m against the total outlay of Rs31.901m allocated for preventive programmes but the department concerned could utilize only Rs17.504m in this sector.

Sources said that Rs61.661m funds were allocated for the improvement of basic health out of which Rs58.39 had been released but the utilization of the funds stood at only Rs18.291m.

Similarly, Rs15.895m were allocated and released for development works at different hospitals but only Rs5.857m have been utilized.