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PESHAWAR, June 17: The NWFP government on Saturday allocated a record Rs26.63 billion for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2006-07, projecting huge amounts for social and economic sectors to improve services delivery and achieve higher industrial and agriculture growth.
NWFP’s senior minister Siraj-ul-Haq, who is holding the ministries of finance, planning and development, presented the next fiscal year's ADP and revised estimates for development expenditures under the outgoing financial year's development programme.
The projected development outlay for the next financial year is 26.8 per cent higher than the outgoing financial year's ADP of Rs21 billion. Similarly, it also reflects an increase of 13 per cent in comparison with the revised development expenditure of Rs23.8 billion which the provincial government's line departments and project executing agencies have jointly posted for the financial year 2005-06.
The new ADP entails induction of 2,000 lady health workers under the national programme for family planning and primary healthcare and 115 nurses to augment the healthcare system.
The NWFP government would continue with its policy to distribute free textbooks among 3.3 million students and promote female literacy and announced to give special stipend of Rs200 to every school-going girl in remote areas. Female teachers in remote areas will get special monthly allowance of Rs1,000. Two cadet colleges and 3,000 adult literacy centres would be established.
The NWFP government will establish industrial zones in Mardan and Karak districts, besides setting up of 47 small hydro power generation units.
However, sectors like research and development and environment appear to be quite low on the government's priority list, as they have been given Rs50 million and Rs19 million, respectively.
Giving a breakdown of funding for the new ADP, Mr Haq said the provincial government would raise Rs14.96 billion from its own resources, whereas foreign assistance would be of Rs7.7 billion, including grants of RS848.7 million. Similarly, Rs2.611 billion will come from different sources for development projects categorized as `special programmes', of which Rs419 million will come under the federal government assisted population welfare programme, whereas 24 district governments would continue to jointly receive Rs963.393 million for carrying development schemes under their respective ADPs for the next financial year.
The locally-funded component of the ADP consists of 1,006 development projects, of which 773 are ongoing projects, while 233 new projects will be launched in the next financial year. Out of Rs26.63 billion total allocation under the ADP, 39.1 per cent have been earmarked for improving social sectors, of which 11.5 per cent funds will go to the health sub-sector and 19.3 per cent to education.
EDUCATION: The highest allocation of Rs3.67 billion was projected for the education sector, which would entail funding for 142 projects, including 101 ongoing and 41 new projects. The government is eyeing an increase in gross enrolment ratio of girls at the primary school level from 68 per cent to 70 per cent, while the overall public and private sectors gross enrolment ratio at the same level would be increased from 81 per cent to 86 per cent. For middle and high schools levels, the overall public and private sector gross enrolment ratio would be brought to 39 per cent from 34 per cent.
The ADP includes the establishment of 210 new primary schools for girls, 90 primary schools for boys and construction of buildings for 220 high schools, whereas 2,000 schools would get boundary walls, proper drinking water facility and latrines. Besides, 300 primary, middle and high schools would be upgraded. Some 25,000 teachers would be imparted in service training.
HEALTH: A total allocation of Rs2.17 billion has been made for the health sector's 139 development projects, including 119 ongoing and 20 new projects. The ADP entails completion of construction work on 12 district headquarter hospitals, six rural health centres and upgradation of 19 civil dispensaries and rural health centres.
SOCIAL WELFARE AND WOMEN DEVELOPMENT: With a total allocation of Rs60 million, this sector includes 30 projects, of which 24 are ongoing and six new projects. Its broad targets include imparting skill training to 600 women, rehabilitation of 800 drug addicts, providing refuge to 300 destitute women in shelter homes, free legal aid to 100 helpless women, shelter for 220 orphans, rehabilitation of 500 beggars and financial aid to 1,600 disabled persons.
ROAD: An investment of 2.7 billion would be made to improve the existing road network and construct new provincial roads. The ADP entails completion of 61 projects of roads in 19 districts and construction of 300km of road in various parts of the province. Besides, work on 19 under construction bridges in six districts would be completed.
DRINKING WATER: This sector will get Rs335 million to improve drinking water facilities across the province through 64 projects.
BUILDING AND HOUSING: With an allocation of Rs301 million for 63 development projects, the building and housing department has been tasked to plan new housing schemes for general public and government servants, establish a recreation park in place of old jail in Bannu and provide essential infrastructure in the planned housing schemes.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT: With an allocation of Rs102 million for nine projects, the ADP entails improvement of infrastructure in Peshawar, effective traffic management through construction of under passes and overhead bridges in the provincial capital.
IRRIGATION: An investment of Rs824 million would be made in the irrigation sector to carry out 65 development projects, whereas pre-feasibility studies of 15 dams would be conducted side by side feasibility studies of 10 dams each under the federal government assisted programme and the provincial initiative. Detailed designing of eight small dams would also be carried out during the next fiscal year.
POWER SECTOR: The power department, allocated Rs300 million under the APD, would execute hydel power projects, including Daral Khawar, Ranolia and Machai. It would also carry out feasibility reports of Koto, Karora and Jabori hydel power stations.
WATER: With a total allocation of Rs246 million under the ADP for 35 development projects, the government has set a target of improving 200 water channels to ensure efficient use of the natural resource, establishment of 7,920 demonstration plots, imparting training to over 5,500 farmers, establishment of 24 farm centres and plantation of 600,000 saplings on one acre.
INDUSTRIES: The industries sector will get Rs405 million for carrying out 53 development projects. Apart from establishing two new industrial zones, polytechnic colleges and vocational centres will be established at Kohistan, Chitral, Karak, Shangla, Malakand and Dir upper districts, whereas Mansehra, Peshawar, Harripur and Tank districts will get technical training centres for women.
