Summary Punjab provided only 7.5 percent of total development funds for 30 percent population of the provinc
LAHORE: Southern districts of Punjab are entitled to have 31.6% out of sources allocated for more than 90 million people living in Punjab but the provincial government completed only 182 development projects with the cost of Rs 44.35 billion in Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan divisions, comprising 11 districts from 2008 to 2012.
According to facts and figures, during this period about Rs 592.50 billion had been allocated for overall welfare projects in the province. The southern areas of the province were provided only 7.48 percent of total funds.
The Punjab government allocated more than Rs 4.37 billion for the educational projects in southern areas but out of this Rs 3.9 billion were spent on Danish schools in Hasilpur, Chishtian, Rahimyar Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan.
The 470 government schools in 11 districts could get only Rs 920 million for maintenance and renovation of the institutions.
So far as renovation and repairing of Taunsa Barrage is concerned, Rs 11 billion were spent on this project while Rs 13 billion were spent on road construction projects in southern Punjab.
The most neglected department was the Health Department in which only 1.47 billion rupees were spent on 12 projects.
On the other hand, the cost management of only Ring Road in Lahore was counted Rs 100 billion while more than Rs 35 billion have been spent on Rapid Bus Project in the provincial capital. (Report contributed by Zulfiqar Mehtoo).
