LAHORE - The Punjab government on Saturday fixed Rs250 billion for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) in its budget for 2012-13- 32 percent of the total outlay against 34 percent of the current fiscal year. However, this ADP has registered a raise of 14 percent against the concluding years ADP of Rs220 billion, which was also up by almost 14 per cent of the preceding year uplift funds.
In comparison with the revised estimates of Rs165 billion of fiscal year 2011-12, the proposed ADP shows an increase of Rs84 billion or 51 per cent.
The last four years’ Punjab govt ADP figures show that Rs160 billion allocated for 2008-9 ADP, Rs175 billion for 2009-10 ADP, Rs193.5 billion for 2010-11 ADP, Rs220 billion for 2011-12 and Rs250 billion for 2012-13 ADP, showing a raise of 9 per cent, 11 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.
The amount fixed for social sector is Rs86.46 billion while education and health sectors will get Rs31.3 billion and Rs35.65 billion respectively.
Other allocations include around Rs63 billion for infrastructure development, Rs8.6 billion for production, Rs5.6 billion for agriculture, Rs11 billion for service sector and Rs81.86 billion for public order and safety. Some Rs13 billion was allocated for women development and Rs 0.35 billion for minorities while Rs4 billion allocated for Ramadan bazaars.
For next fiscal year, govt plans to spend Rs80 billion on uplift projects of South Punjab, which is 32 percent of the total ADP.
The government proposed allocation of Rs14 billion for different projects for the welfare of women in several departments. The construction of new women universities in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan and Bahawalpur will be started next year.
It is to be noted that the cabinet also okayed continuation of schemes like Ashiana, yellow cab and laptop during the financial year 2012-13, and in this regard, Rs2 billion has been allocated for Danish Schools, Rs2 billion earmarked for 4 new Ashyana Housing schemes in different districts. Besides, government plans to provide 50,000 homes with solar panel worth Rs1 billion during next fiscal year.