–Govt to prioritise agriculture, education, food, health, and industry sectors
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has directed 25 administrative departments not to launch new development schemes for the next financial year due to financial difficulties in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
According to sources in the planning and development department, the provincial government was thinking of slashing the annual development budget considerably in the next financial year. “Therefore each department will propose just 6 annual development programmes,” they said, adding that the current expenditure will also be brought down.
The finance department has directed departments to reduce expenditure so that the available funds can be utilized properly and efficiently.
According to sources, the provincial government has set a limit of Rs115 billion, Rs100 billion, Rs90 billion, Rs80 billion, Rs70 billion and Rs60 billion for the annual development programmes from which any ADP will be formulated according to the resource of the province.
According to sources, 32 departments of the province have also been divided into four separate sections in which the first priority departments have been directed to include new schemes.
The provincial government has given top priority to agriculture, primary and secondary education, food, health, higher education, industry and rehabilitation and directed these departments to introduce new schemes.
It has also been decided to make a big cut in next year’s development programme pertaining to the religious and minority affairs, finance, excise and taxation, finance, housing, law, minerals, welfare, population, sports and transport.
There will be changes made in the development programmes of the Department of Home Affairs, Information, Labour, Municipalities, Drinking Water, and Highways Authority However, the department will not introduce any new projects. While the ADP of the Department of Communications and Works, Energy, Environment, Forestry, Science and Technology, Urban Development and will be deducted.
In the proposed development programme, 85% budget will be allocated for ongoing schemes and 15% for new schemes. Those departments which could not get the scheme approved yet will have to approach the government for funds next year.
