PESHAWAR, June 28: The NWFP Finance Minister, Farid Rehman, on Friday announced a provincial Annual Development Programme of Rs13.673 billion for the financial year 2002-2003, showing an increase of 44 per cent over the current financial year.

Announcing the NWFP Budget for 2002-2003 in a televised speech, Farid Rehman said that foreign aided projects would get the highest priority followed by ongoing projects, new projects in the social sectors and revenue generating schemes and new projects for the rehabilitation of infrastructure. He said that 400 projects had been included in the provincial and additional ADP for the new fiscal year.

The ADP, however, reflects a huge resource shortfall of Rs7.960 billion which, according to the budget document, would be financed through savings and resource mobilization of Rs1.8 billion, Social Action Credit from the World Bank to the tune of Rs.5.4 billion and operational shortfall of Rs670.459 billion.

The finance minister said that Rs8.987 billion or 66 per cent of the total ADP had been earmarked for ongoing schemes while Rs4.6 billion or 34 per cent had been allocated for new schemes.

Under sectoral strategy, highest priority has been assigned to education, which has been allocated Rs2.04 billion — 15 per cent of the total ADP and Rs872 million more than the current years revised estimates of Rs1.176 billion — an increase of 102 per cent over the current year.

The establishment of 50 community schools, 50 English medium schools, 15 high schools, 3 higher secondary schools and 12 colleges besides the recruitment of 22,000 teachers on contract basis has been included as the major targets in the education sector for the next year’s ADP. Similarly, it has also set for itself a target of an enrolment increase of 4pc, 2.5pc and 2pc respectively at the primary, middle and secondary level in the next year’s educational ADP.

Health has been allocated Rs522.959 million that is 6 per cent of the total ADP, showing an increase of Rs94.854 million over the current year’s revised estimates of Rs428.105 million. The minister in his speech, however, put the total health allocation at Rs801 million, reflecting an increase of 46 per cent over the current year’s revised estimates. As part of the health ADP, 2000 Lady Health Workers would be recruited, 350 doctors would be employed and essential equipment would be provided to the District Headquarters Hospitals in 24 districts of the NWFP.

Farid Rehman said that maximum allocation had been made to those ongoing schemes, which were at an advanced stage of completion. He said that 16 per cent of the total Public Sector Development Programme that included Rs1.009 billion for ongoing portfolio, Rs117 million for ongoing Social Action Programme (Education Projects) and Rs1 billion for ongoing Khushhal Pakistan Programme would be transferred to the districts for execution of the schemes.

Roads and bridges have been allocated Rs1.76 billion, which shows 65 per cent increase over current year’s 794 million. The minister said that the main focus of the ADP in this particular sector would be on the rehabilitation of existing facilities.

The major projects included in the ADP for the next financial year includes the construction/ rehabilitation of Mardan-Swabi Road, Chashma-Dasratang Road, Chamla-Amazai Road (District Buner), Mardan-Dargai Road, Dir-Timergarha Road, link roads to Indus Highway at Kohat and Bannu and nine bridges on Kohat- Khushhal Garh road. He announced the initiation of construction work on the long-awaited Lowari Tunnel project with funding by the federal government that would provide a round-the-year road link for Chitral with the rest of the country.

He said that Rs856 million had been earmarked for building and housing in the next year’s ADP which included the expansion of the Provincial Assembly building and the construction of Central Jail Peshawar at Jalozai and borstal institutions at Bannu and Peshawar.

Water supply and sanitation has been allocated Rs214 million with emphasis on the completion of 82 ongoing projects.

Urban development will receive Rs255 million to undertake the construction of major projects in Peshawar City including Suri Pull Intersection, Warsak Road, Jamrud Road and southern portion of Ring Road, Peshawar.

Similarly, Rs102 million has been earmarked for the power sector with major projects included Malakand Hydro Power III (81 mw), Reshun (2.8 mw), Pehur Hydro Power (11 mw) and commencement of work on Gomal Zam and Kurram Tangi from this year.

Water has been allocated a major chunk of the ADP—Rs3.1 billion—to complete Pehur High Level Canal, Chanda Fateh Khan dam (Kohat), Sharakot and Kuz Sharakot dams (Kohistan) and start work on Chashma Right Bank Canal (1st lift) with federal government funding.

Rs457 million and Rs513 million have been allocated for the agriculture and forest sectors respectively. Industries has been allocated Rs293 million to set up five technical education colleges and operationalize the Risalpur Export Processing Zone.

Regional development has been allocated Rs1.5 billion — 13 per cent of the total ADP and Rs924.893 million more than the revised estimates for the current financial year.