QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Monday unveiled the Rs88.3 billionAnnual Development Programme (ADP) for 2018-19. The entire developmentbudget of Balochistan is lesser than the development budget of Punjabcapital Lahore. Lahore development budget for last years has hovered overRs 100 billion and the Rs 200 billion Orange Line train is an exception tothat.
In Balochistan the top priority being given to education, public healthengineering development (PHED) and communication sectors.
Presenting the budget for 2018-19, Adviser to the Chief Minister on FinanceDr Ruquyia Saeed Hashmi said the government wanted to allocate maximumfunds for the development sector to provide more facilities to the people.
She said the ADP also includes Rs9.2bn foreign aid. However, the resourcesfrom the federal government are not up to the needs of Balochistan, sheadded.
A total 4,728 schemes have been included in the ADP 2018-19. Out of which3,213 schemes are new while 1,515 schemes ongoing ones as the governmentwants to complete ongoing schemes as soon as possible to allocate maximumamount for the new schemes, Dr Hashmi explained.