Sindh budget 2012-13: New ADP envisages funds for Lyari Economic Zone

YASIR BABBAR

KARACHI: In a move to win back the hearts and minds of the people of Lyari, the Sindh government has allocated Rs1.2 billion for ongoing development package of Lyari in the province's Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2012-13, Business Recorder learnt on Friday.

The allocations included a new scheme for creating 'Lyari's Economic Zone on 500 acres'.

The upcoming provincial budget would be tabled in the Sindh Assembly on June 11 (Monday next week). Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah will present the province's fifth consecutive budget.

Sindh's development outlay envisaging spending Rs221 billion for FY-2012-13 has already been finalised by the authorities, with allocations of Rs161 billion for provincial government schemes, Rs20 billion for district government projects and Rs37 billion for foreign-funded (loans/grants) schemes.

Sources inside the Planning and Development (P&D) said that Rs1,369 had been allocated for development schemes initiated by the department of industries in the upcoming ADP.

They said that the department had submitted a proposal for the creation of a 'Lyari Economic Zone (LEZ)', which had been approved and incorporated in the ADP on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari.

A concept paper had been submitted by officials of the department of industries to P&D, they said.

According to the concept paper, a copy of which was obtained by Business Recorder, the zone would be established over 500 acres. The Board of Revenue (BoR) would be asked to identify and allot land in Lyari or its suburbs.

Initially, the P&D allocated Rs400 million for the LEZ while the remaining Rs800 million was allocated for development schemes being run under the Lyari Development Package (LDP), they said.

LDP was initiated in FY 2009-10 with a total cost of Rs3.5 billion, envisaging the setting up of seven playgrounds. Eleven of the rehabilitated and improved parks in Lyari had been handed over to the local administration for maintenance under this package, they said.

Under the LDP (2009-10 and 2010-11), various schemes for improvement/rehabilitation of lighting system of roads, streets, parks and playgrounds had been completed, including the provision of generators at the Kakri Ground and a sports complex, they added.

After funds were released in the new fiscal year, the local administration would start working on improving existing boxing clubs and football house. A PC-1 for the schemes has already been prepared and approved by the PDWP, sources said.

They said they would also approach officers concerned of the National Highways Authority (NHA) to accelerate the construction of pedestrian bridges on the Mauripur Road in the next fiscal year, they said. Political observers view this move as an effort of the PPP to win back the hearts and minds of Lyariites.

Lyari was considered a PPP stronghold but a recent police crackdown created a rift between the PPP and the people of Lyari. As a result, now the local people now supported Uzair Jan Baloch and other leaders of the banned PAC, instead of elected PPP representatives.