The Punjab government has allocated Rs 150 billion to Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the budget 2007-08, which is 50 percent higher as compared to last year''s.
The financing of the ADP includes provincial contribution of Rs 142 billion as against budgetary estimates of Rs 91.123 billion and revised estimates of Rs 128.236 billion of 2006-07; and foreign assistance of Rs 7.943 billion against Rs 8.876 billion budget estimates of last year.
It included the core provincial development programme of Rs 93 billion, special programmes of Rs 40 billion, Rs 3 billion for development of Katchi Abadis and the district development programme of Rs 14 billion. The salient features include full funding for projects to be completed; 66 percent funding for ongoing projects, and 34 percent for new projects; 46 percent of 3,290 schemes will be completed.
Special focus has also been laid on development of Southern Punjab ie 12 percent edge in allocations, funding for foreign-aided and mega projects as per plan/requirement with concentration on services and urban sectors.
Emphasis has also been laid on social sectors, that is, education, health, water supply and sanitation (48 percent), rural areas (64 percent), infrastructure investment (35 percent) and allocation to pro-poor sector comes to 8 percent.
The government''s primary focus is on provision of quality education in the province and the government will achieve it through education-related millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015.