MUZAFFARABAD, June 20: The Annual Development Programme of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for the next fiscal year lays major emphasis on development of infrastructure followed by social sector and productive departments which have been given equal share.

With a total outlay of Rs9.547 billion, which is 19 per cent of the total budget, infrastructure receives 58 per cent through allocation of Rs3,917 million for transport and communication, Rs770 million for local government and rural development, Rs722 million for physical planning and housing and Rs135 million for development authorities.

In the social sector, Rs887.017 million have been allocated for education, Rs587.08 million for health, Rs140 million for sports, Rs130 million for information technology/media development, Rs80.583 million for research and development, Rs33 million for civil defence, Rs28.019 million for social welfare and women development and Rs15 million for environment.

In the productive sector, Rs215 million has been allocated for agriculture & livestock, Rs317 million for forest, wildlife/fisheries, Rs186 million for industries/minerals, Rs1,130 for power (electricity department and hydroelectric Board), and Rs106 million for tourism. Rs 48.337 million have been earmarked for foreign aided projects.

On the non-development side, whose volume is Rs40.05 billion, education gets the highest allocation of Rs13.073 billion while health gets Rs3.248 billion. Police would consume Rs3.004 billion and Rs3.5 billion would go to pensions of retired employees.

The electricity department has been allocated Rs5.335 billion.

Food department has been given Rs133 million but State Trading (subsidy on wheat) consumes Rs2 billion.

Rs1.582 million have been earmarked for general administration and Rs 1.98 billion for miscellaneous expenditures.

Other major allocations include, Rs515.29 million for Board of Revenue, Rs687.7 million for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Rs688.49 million for dispensation of justice (judiciary), Rs1,788 million for Communication and Works, Rs401.320 for Agriculture, Rs402.930 million for Animal Husbandry, Rs546.950 million for Forests and Rs292.475 for local government & rural development (LG&RD).