KARACHI, June 22: The Sindh government has allocated Rs377 million for 128 new educational schemes under the head of public sector development projects (PSDP) during the fiscal year 2004-05 out of a total PSDP allocation of Rs2,231.448 million for education sector.

The total budget includes Rs660 million for the province, while the major portion would go to various district governments. The allocations pertain to 570 new and ongoing schemes.

The provincial government would be proceeding with 28 ongoing projects from its allocation to a tune of Rs461 million, while Rs198.659 million had been allocated for new projects.

Among the new education schemes to be undertake by Sindh Education Department, two include in elementary education, three in teachers' education, one in special education, two in technical education, two in college education, one in education administration, and five new schemes under the miscellaneous head (including Rs5.381 million for educational institutions affected due rain/flood damages during 2003 in district Mirpurkhas).

The department has also planned to launch works pertaining to establishment of one cadet college each at Karachi and Ghotki. In the field of technical education, the department would be providing 300 computers to top six polytechnic institutes of the province, while it would initiate work with regard to introduction of postgraduate courses at six male and female colleges in Karachi and another six colleges in interior Sindh.

An allocation of Rs96 million has also been made by provincial government for Decentralised Elementary Education Project (DEEP) from its own exchequer, while another Rs500 million would be provided by the Asian Development Bank as loan. An amount of Rs144.330 million was allocated for the year 2002-03, but a physical progress of 3.55 per cent could be achieved so far.

As per the breakup of allocations for local governments, Karachi district would be receiving Rs630.818 million, Hyderabad Rs101.481, Thatta/Mitthi Rs135.419, while allocations for other districts are below Rs100 million, with that for Khairpur just being Rs12.813 million.

New schemes to be undertaken by the City District Government Karachi during the year include one in elementary education, four in secondary, six in technical, and seven in college education.

As per plans, addition and improvement, alteration and renovation or reconstruction works would be carried out at City College Moosa Colony, Ra'ana Liaquat ALi Khan College of Home Economics, Khursheed Girls College, Government College for Commerce and Economics, Abdullah Girls College, Jinnah College, St Joseph's College, College for Women Sharea Liaquat, Girls Degree College Baldia Town, and Government College for Women Nazimabad.

An amount of Rs3 million has been allocated for provision of furniture and equipment to the city's existing colleges. However, no amount has been allocated for establishment of any new educational institutions in the city.

An amount of Rs3 million has been allocated for consolidation and improvement of Physical Education College, University Road, which would be carried out by the Sindh Education Department.