KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday unveiled Rs168 billion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2014-15, with a major thrust on improving service delivery of existing infrastructure and launching of vital projects to accelerate economic growth.

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in his speech at the provincial assembly said the budget making had been a daunting task due to incidents of terrorism and ongoing recession in the global economy.

He said the ADP for next fiscal year was Rs17bn less than the outgoing year’s original estimate of Rs185bn, but 46 per cent higher than the revised estimates of Rs115bn.

The poor tax collection by the federal government, he complained was the main reason due to which Sindh government was compelled to slash its development spending in 2013-14.

He said there should be further fiscal decentralisation and after the success of the Sindh government in collecting sales tax on services, it is high time to allow provinces collect sales tax on goods as well.

However, through a well-devised strategy, the province succeeded in completing a record number of 605 developmental schemes in the outgoing fiscal year.

Elaborating ADP 2014-15, Qaim said it was being made realistic in order to ensure that all the priority projects were adequately funded and the fund releases were more predictable.

“Though all sectors are equally important for the government, but due to financial constraints, certain objectives of development have been placed on priority in terms of resource allocation,” he asserted.

Improved service delivery across all sectors, peace and security through investment in law and order, education and youth development, improved healthcare, energy generation, building a robust infrastructure, and development of agriculture, livestock and fisheries were listed as priority areas.

The chief minister said for repairs of roads and buildings including schools, hospitals, police stations etc a sum of Rs9.148bn was earmarked, which is 58pc higher from Rs5.771bn allocated for the same in the outgoing fiscal year.

Construction of 305 km new roads, improvement of 470 km roads and construction of 11 new bridges were targeted. On education sector development, Qaim said though the size of ADP was reduced yet a Rs10.7 billion was set aside for this vital sector. “A large number of schemes of construction and upgradation of schools and colleges will be implemented.”

For health sector Rs13.2bn was allocated in ADP 2014-15. Pace of ongoing projects will be increased whereas 84 new initiatives will also start.

Irrigation is the lifeline of agriculture sector and faces various challenges like flood, water shortage at tail ends, inequitable distribution of water etc. In the next ADP Rs8.62bn was allocated for water and drainage sector.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2014