KARACHI: The pace of rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, buildings and other schemes be accelerated and completed within stipulated time, and people facing hardships after heavy rains be provided relief as early as possible. This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah while presiding over two separate meetings of Planning and Development Department and Works and Services Department at the CM House here, said a statement issued on Tuesday. The Sindh CM said that together with ongoing schemes and new schemes some schemes of installation of RO plants in various localities be arranged so as to provide drinking water facility to people of the affected areas.
Keeping in view the increased demand from members of provincial assembly (MPAs), the CM decided to allocate Rs 60 million development schemes per MPA. Previously, there was an allocation of Rs 40 million schemes for each MPA. Shah said that the Sindh government has also decided that funds worth Rs 40 million schemes are being allocated for all 75 members of national assembly (MNAs) belonging to Sindh. The CM directed the Planning and Development Department to expedite approval of schemes, while Finance Department should release the funds accordingly.
It was also decided that 50 percent allocation would be released for 14 reserve seats of members of National Assembly and 31 reserve seats of women for Sindh Assembly. Shah said that the present government has avoided the tendency of releasing funds in the month of May and added that it was practice to utilise the funds in a haphazard way within one month in violation of terms of quality of work and standard so-approved.
The CM added that it was decided to release 50 percent funds in the month of July and 50 percent funds in January every year so as to maintain standard and quality of such schemes and completion of the same in stipulated time. The meeting was informed that due to heavy rains, and presence of water on the lands and roads, the utilisation of funds for initiating development schemes was delayed.
It was informed that the total allocation of Annual Development Programme was Rs 111 billion, out of which Rs 35.55 billion were released and there is an expenditure of only Rs 11.08 billion. Sindh CM also reviewed progress with regard to utilisation of funds and results of development schemes of various departments particularly education, health department and works and services department, and expressed satisfaction.
