Sindh recorded forty percent utilization in Annual Development Plan (ADP) against the release of funds in the first half of financial year 2018-19. According to official document, Sindh Government released Rs85.886 billion in July-December 2018-19, against which Rs.35.648 billion were spent.
The provincial ADP stood at Rs223 billion for the current financial year, in which Rs202 billion were allocated for the ongoing development schemes in the province and Rs21 billion were set aside for the new schemes. The allocations on account of development budget were made against a total of 2251 schemes, in which 2226 were ongoing schemes whereas 35 new development schemes were included.
The department-wise utilization of the development budget shows that Agriculture, Supply & Prices Department recorded seven percent utilization of funds as it expenditure came to Rs113 million against the releases of Rs1.546 billion in the said period.
In Auqaf, Zakat & Ushar Department, the utilization of funds stood at Rs.70 million against Rs203 million releases, showing 34 percent expenditure. In Board of Revenue, 34 percent of funds were utilized as expenditure stood at Rs152 million against releases of Rs454 million.
In Culture & Tourism Department, funds utilization stood at 58 percent with expenditure coming to Rs526 million against Rs904 million releases. In Education Sector, Rs2.090 billions were spent against Rs 8.692 billion of funds, showing 24 percent utilization o funds.
In Environment schemes, 49 percent of expenditure was recorded with Rs51 illion utilization of funds against Rs106 releases.
In Food Department, seventy two percent utilization of funds was registered as Rs36 million were spent against Rs50 million releases. In Forest & Wildlife Department, sixty nine percent of funds were utilized against the releases. In Health Department and Home Department, 25 percent and fifty percent of funds were utilized respectively.
Irrigation and Information Technology Department utilized 72 percent and 13 percent of development funds against their utilization respectively. Local Department and Law & Prosecution Department recorded 31 percent and 67 percent utilization of funds respectively. Planning & Development Department utilized 36 percent of funds and Mega Project for Karachi registered 15 percent of utilization against the releases.
Population Welfare department registered 36 percent utilization and Public Health Engineering recorded 12 percent expenditure against releases. No release was made in Cooperative Department, Energy, Excise & Taxation, Finance, Information & Archives, Katchi Abadies, Lining of Main Canals, Mines & Minerals Department and few others departments in first six months of current financial year.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

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