DERA GHAZI KHAN, March 5: Funds allocated under the Khushhal Pakistan (KPP) and Social Action programmes (SAP) in the Dera district might lapse as only four months of the current financial year are left.

Dera had allocation of Rs270.50 million under KPP and Rs 30million under SAP. The first KPP installment of 16.50 million was received in July 2001. Later, another sum of Rs 11million was received under the same head.

When this correspondent contacted the district development officer, he said the district development committee had passed schemes worth Rs 130million and work would start soon.

Tehsil authorities told this correspondent that the DDC had approved water supply schemes for tribal area but it wanted the local community to deposit the maintenance fund before the work was taken in hand.

According to the project manager of tribal area, it was difficult for poor tribal communities to pay maintenance allowance of water supply schemes.

The water supply user committees, it may be added, have failed in tribal area. The paying capacity of the tribal people is very small. Persistent drought has destroyed their cattle economy.

The schemes of road construction also could not be initiated due to the compulsion of transfer of land, on which road would constructed, to the authorities concerned.

The district coordination officer told Dawn that all schemes had been approved and funds transferred to the TMAs concerned.

There still exists suspicion regarding the proper use of funds by executing agencies. In recent session of district council, members demanded that the KPP funds should be spent through union council Nazims.

APPLICATIONS: The Punjab Employees Social Security Institution, Dera Ghazi Khan, has received 1,183 applications against 61 vacant posts from scale one to six. A majority of the aspirants are post graduates.