District governments fail to utilise allocated funds
KARACHI – District governments of Sindh have failed to achieve the targets of utilisation of allotted development funds. Local Governments (LG) have only utilised 33.8% of the development funds allocated under Annual Development Programme (ADP) during seven months (July 2006 to January 2007) of current fiscal year 2006-2007, The Nation learnt on Monday.
The provincial planning and development department, which monitors the utilisation and pace of funds, has believed that the performances of the district governments are not satisfactory whereas Districts are claiming that delay in releasing of the funds by finance departments was the main reason of least utilisation of ADP funds, the sources in Sindh government said.
Sindh government allocated Rs.8 billion for 4832 development schemes for all districts governments, which had to be carried out in current financial year. Rs.24 billion was allotted to provincial departments for 1123 development schemes. The total annual development programme in the province was around Rs.32 billion for the FY.
In comparison to other districts, the hefty amount of Rs.1643.690 million earmarked for provincial capital/City district government Karachi to carry out 363 development schemes in ADP, in current fiscal year. Provincial finance department of Sindh government has released Rs.616.163million to CDGK in seven months until January 30, 2007.It had so far utilised Rs.311.593million in mentioned period, which stood at 50.6% of released amount and 19% of total allocation, sources said and added that provincial authorities termed that the utilisation of funds in development schemes were not satisfactory during the seven months.
Hyderabad district government had Rs.386.473million in ADP, for 129 development schemes. Provincial department has released Rs.142.994million in seven months until January 2007. Hyderabad LG has utilised only Rs.55.718million, it stood 14.04% of the released amount and 39% of the total allocation, sources said. Hyderabad was the second largest city and the district before its bifurcation in four districts.
Tharparkar district government had received Rs.393.779million in current ADP for 136 development schemes. Finance department has released Rs.131.536million, but it could only utilise Rs.72.593million in seven months from January 30, 2007. This stood 55.02% of released amount and 18.04% of total allocation, the official sources said. It may also be mentioned that Tharparkar is the home district of Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. The officials of Sindh government disclosed that the utilisation of ADP funds by Tharparkar was not satisfactory.
Similarly, the pace of development works in other district governments of Sindh were also slow and the funds could not be utilised according to the target set by the provincial government.
The official sources said that third largest district Government, Sukkur district government has utilised only 27.8% of funds while allocated Rs.326.617million during seven months.
Home district of former chief minister of Sindh Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, Ghotki district government used 59% of allocated funds Rs.360.551million, Khairpur district used 29% and Naushero Feroze used 28% of allocated development funds. Naushero Feroze is the home district of the former caretaker Prime Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, and his son is the district nazim.
As other districts are governed by big feudal and politicians. Farial Talpur, sister of Asif Ali Zardari, governs Nawabshash district government. Nawabshash has used only 27% development funds current fiscal year in seven months.
Larkana district government has utilised 26% of allocated funds Rs.251million in seven months. Larkana is the home district of PPP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, which at present governed by PML-Q and its allies from year 2004.
Similarly, Shikarpur district has used only 37% development funds, which governed by Arif Mahar, son of federal minister of Narcotics Ghous Bux Mahar. Jacbabad has used 82% funds of ADP, which is good amount in comparison to other districts governments.
At present Jacbabad is governed by district Nazim Saeeda Soomro, who is the sister of Chairman Senate Mohammad Mian soomro.
Kashmore has utilised 78% development funds, Qamber district government used 29%, Mirpurkhas 39%, Umerkot 39%, Sanghar 38%, Thatta 48% and Badin district government has used only16.8percentage development funds of ADP in seven months.
The district governments in Sindh were mainly governed by family members of big politicians and feudal, which has been part of different governments at federal and the provincial level since creation of the count.
Source: Nation
Date:3/20/2007
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