According to newspaper reports, the Punjab government has initiated an ambitious Annual Development Programme for 2014-15, in which Rs 345 billion has been allocated various development schemes in the province. At least Rs 290 billion have been allocated for regular development programme,Rs 40 billion for other development initiatives and Rs 15 billion for special initiatives. The programme envisages a secure, economically vibrant, industrialised and knowledge-based province to improve quality of life of common citizens.The government is spending Rs 155 billion on various development schemes in the provincial capital and other districts of the province. Lahore is a metropolitan city and it needs extra budget and plans to streamline its affairs. At the moment, all the water supply pipelines have been rusted away and 80 percent of the population has no access to clean drinking water. Sewerage and traffic problems are another burden on the government’sshoulders and no attention is being given to this side of the planning. The streets in northern Lahore often present a view of dirty water ponds while traffic jam shows a scene of bedlam on the main Canal Road from Dharmpura to Jallo Park. However, the government is focusing on completion of ongoing schemes with an allocation of Rs 155 billion while regional balance in allocation of resources with extra weight of 36 percent is for 11 districts of Southern Punjab, Rs 119 billion for social sectors investments with major focus on education and health.
The government has also allocated Rs 40.4 billion for urban development sector including Rs 10 billion each for mass transit system for Rawalpindi and Multan, Rs 35.5 billion for irrigation sector as compared to Rs 22 billion during 2013-14, Rs 31 billion for investment in the energy sector, Rs 30 billion for women empowerment initiatives and Rs 12 billion for district development programme.The government must ensure the bureaucratic machinery to use these funds in timely manner before they lapse unutilised. What late mayor of Lahore ShujaurRehman used to do he was in the hahibt of re-depositing the development fund back to the national exchequer without utilising it on people welfare schemes. People with long hands have often little heart. The funds allocated for the development schemes must be utilized within the specified time.
There are several NGOs which are working against the interest of the people and ground realities. The Canal Road needs to be doubled immediately, but they have start litigation in the name of trees without realizing that widening the city roads is a must in any circumstances. They can delay the project, but cannot abolish it.
