June 15, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1424

LAHORE, June 14: The Punjab government on Saturday announced an annual development programme (ADP) of Rs30.5 billion in the budget 2003-04.

Finance Minister Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak in his budget speech stated the government had planned to finance its development programme through a provincial contribution of Rs22.111 billion it had saved from the current budget and foreign assistance of Rs8.300 billion. Another Rs88.616 million will be made available for the development in the form of grants.

The development budget for the year 2003-04 is about 47 per cent higher than the estimated Rs20.750 billion for the outgoing fiscal and 26.30 per cent greater than the revised estimates of Rs24.147 billion.

It includes Rs1,855 million Tameer-i-Punjab programme and a block allocation of Rs9 billion for the districts for funding their development programmes. The provincial ADP caters to foreign aided projects, inter-district projects and non-devolved departments’ development projects.

Another salient feature of the provincial ADP is the reduction in the number of throw forward schemes, and it aims at agriculture development through improved agronomical practices, new technologies, better water management, agricultural research, livestock development, sustained supply of irrigation water and drought control measures.

It is also aimed at infrastructural development in the province, that is, roads, urban and rural water supplies and katchi abadi development, establishment of a World Trade Organization cell for enhanced focus on expansion of agricultural and industrial production and quality control for export purposes. It will revolve around education, health, social welfare, skill development and population control programme.

In the ADP maximum allocation has been made for the timely completion of the ongoing schemes, which have already consumed 60 per cent and above of the total cost, so as to avoid cost over runs and ensure impact and benefits of development.

The ADP ensures adequate funding of the foreign-aided projects as per contracts with lending agencies.

The sectoral programme of the ADP 2003-04 includes: (Normal programme) agriculture Rs737 million; irrigation Rs3,750 million; education Rs5,976 million; health Rs860 million; roads Rs3,265 million; information technology Rs230 million; forestry and wildlife Rs140 million; water supplies Rs936 million; livestock Rs170 million; industries Rs300 million; and environmental planning Rs90 million.

GOVERNMMENT BUILDINGS: Housing Rs125 million; offices Rs175 million; access to justice programme Rs500 million; information, culture and youth affairs Rs34 million; social welfare Rs36 million; and labour and human resources Rs15 million.

REGIONAL PLANNING: Cholistan Development Authority Rs157.856 million; ABAD Rs253.132 million; Bahawalpur rural development project Rs672.012 million; Dera Ghazi Khan rural development project Rs407 million; local government department Rs10 million; and planning and development department Rs11 million.

Priority Programme Rs350 million, katchi abadis Rs150 million, capacity building Rs50m, un-funded schemes Rs245m, Tameer-i-Punjab Programme Rs1,855 million and block allocation for districts Rs9 billion.

AGRICULTURE: The allocation for the agriculture sector is 12 per cent higher than Rs656 million of the current fiscal year. Out of this, Rs544.491 million have been earmarked for lining of 2,100 watercourses to reduce water losses and ensure optimal use of available scarce irrigation water.

A WTO cell has been established in the department to prepare for the challenges of new international trade order.

An amount of Rs15.95 million has been allocated for the completion of Seed Graders Phase-II Project, Rs60m for reviving cotton cultivation in Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh and Rs12.189 million for the completion of soil and water testing laboratories.

IRRIGATION: The major initiatives in the irrigation sector include Rs60 million for detailed feasibility study of 40 small hydel power stations, Rs50 million for feasibility study of new dams in Potohar area, Rs20 million for reclamation of saline sodic soil of Jhang, Shorkot, using gypsum as chemical amendment, Rs197 million for restoration and improvement of banks and prism of BS Link-I Canal, Rs65 million, Rs124 million, and Rs29 million for the construction of Mial Dam, Lehri dam and Bhani Drain, respectively, Rs1,363 million for the rehabilitation of Taunsa Barrage Irrigation system and Rs2,000 million for construction of small hydel power station.

LIVESTOCK: The Punjab government intends to spend Rs90 million on livestock production programme and Rs80 million for research, education and training during the next fiscal year. It has earmarked Rs3 million for initiating the Livestock Production Research Institute at Kherimurat, and Rs12.180 million for the total Rs95 million diagnostic laboratories being set up to treat sick animals.

Forest and wildlife: An amount of Rs6m has been earmarked for survey, research and control of shisham dieback in Punjab, Rs72m for upland rehabilitation and development projects for Murree, Kahuta, and Kotli Sattian tehsils of Rawalpindi.

An allocation of Rs16 million has been made for the improvement of wildlife parks at Changa Manga, Wood Land Wildlife Park and Jallo (Lahore) and Dera Ghazi Khan Wildlife Park, Rs10m for the establishment of Guttwala Wildlife Park (Faisalabad) and Rs13 million for the beatification and preservation of Kallar Kahar Lake.

ENVIRONMENT: The major allocations for the environment department include Rs20 million for the formulation of Punjab Conservation Policy, Rs781 million for the establishment of Sialkot tannery zone, and Rs5 million for environmental education and communication programme.

Information technology: An amount of Rs15 million has been allocated for the establishment of an IT university in Lahore to promote IT education. Under this project, the federal government would transfer COMSAT Institute of Information Technology, Raiwind Road, Lahore, to the Punjab government for the purpose.

INDUSTRIES: An amount of Rs7.5 million has been allocated for providing modern equipment and machinery in the Bahawalpur Government Printing Press, Rs74.888 million for providing missing facilities in the Multan Industrial Estate, Rs22.80 million to the Punjab Small Industries Corporation and Rs12m for the wood seasoning facility at Chiniot.

The PSIC would provide subsidy of Rs0.231 million on mark-up against loans extended through the State Bank and Rs17.722 million for new initiatives for providing missing facilities to five small and mini industrial estates in Gujjar Khan, Chakwal, Jhelum, Bahawalpur and Lahore.

The total schemes are 119 and the major include construction of 40 police stations, CPO complex in Lahore, district jails in Vehari and Toba Tek Singh, 120 flats in GOR-IV, Lahore, highway patrolling posts and barracks and hostels for police officials. Information and culture: It has been given Rs34 million for completing three out of nine existing schemes. The major schemes include completion of information and cultural complex, Rawalpindi; Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium, Faisalabad; auditorium in arts councils of Gujranwala, Sargodha and D.G. Khan; and conservation and protection of cultural heritage of Multan.