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DADU, June 10: Funds amounting to Rs180 million, earmarked for various development projects in the district, have not been utilized by the departments concerned in the current fiscal year ending on June 30 for unspecified reasons, while zakat and ushr funds of Rs120 million are also likely to lapse.
Out of Rs124 million set aside for various schemes of schools, roads, wells, health and water supply under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance programme, Rs15 million remain unutilized.
An amount of Rs40 million was earmarked for upgrading and renovation of Dargah Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, however, only Rs16 million had been utilized as the work was delayed.
Likewise, of Rs55 million allocated by the Sindh government for setting up a hill-station at Gorakh, Rs45 million are yet to be spent.
An amount of Rs52 million set aside for construction of schools have not been utilized, while scholarship funds worth Rs8 million remain to be distributed.
Funds of Rs120 million for distribution of zakat among the poor and deserving remain unutilized due to non-formation of the district zakat and ushr committee.
Of the total unutilized funds of Rs180 million, Rs144 million were meant for mega projects while Rs36 million were earmarked for smaller ones.
If not utilized, they would lapse by June 30, with only 25 per cent of the schemes completed.
The Sindh government, reportedly taking notice of the non-utilization of the funds, has transferred the DCO, however, no action has been taken against the EDO (works and services), whose alleged negligence has resulted in the non-completion of the Sindh government’s mega Gorakh tourist spot project.
District Nazim Malik Asad Sikandar called for action against the officials responsible for the non-utilization of the funds.
MOU: BHP Billiton signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sindh government to upgrade medical facilities at the taluka hospital Johi at a cost of Rs6 million.
The MoU was signed at the taluka hospital by the adviser for health to the Sindh CM, Mr Faisal Malik, and Mr Phillip Byrne, general manager of BHP Billiton, on Thursday.
Sindh health secretary Dr Naushad A. Shaikh, special assistant to Sindh chief minister, Dr Manzoor Leghari and EDO health, Dadu, Dr Dhani Bux Thebo were also present on the occasion.
Under the terms of MoU, BHP Billiton and its joint venture partners would provide infrastructure support to local hospitals to improve mother and child care facilities to ensure quality health service and emergency care.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Byrne said this public-private partnership would enable the company to proceed with the upgrading of the labour room, operation theatre and general and emergency wards.
When completed, the hospital would benefit a population of over 50,000.
He said that the company would continue to work with the government and community groups to ensure that local communities benefited from its activities, both in short and longer term.
Mr Faisal Malik said that Sindh government was paying attention to health problems of remote areas.
He said that his department had launched a drive against quacks and those who were selling fake medicines.
He said specialists and other staff would be posted at vacant posts in the hospitals of Sindh.
The health secretary said diploma holder health technicians would be appointed on posts of dental, laboratory and OT technicians in the government hospitals.
Among others, special assistant to Chief Minister, Dr Manzoor Leghari, adviser to BHP for security and community colonel (Rtd) Zulfiqar Ali Khan and EDO health Dr Dhani Bux Thebo also spoke on the occasion.
