The Punjab government has fulfilled its promise to set aside separate funds for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of South Punjab. The provincial government has allocated billions of rupees for the uplift of the Southern region, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

The Punjab government has proposed to earmark Rs189,287 million in its annual budget 2021/22 for South Punjab. Special attention has been given to the health sector as Rs28,204 million have been set aside for specialized healthcare and medical education in the region.

The budget document proposes Rs15,362 million for school education in Multan city; Rs4,866 million for higher education; Rs157 million for special education; Rs1,015 million for literacy and non-formal education; and Rs1806 million for sports and youth affairs in the city.

It has been suggested in the budget document to allocate Rs28,204 million for specialized healthcare and medical education in South Punjab; Rs5,886 million for primary and secondary healthcare; Rs664 million for population welfare; Rs4,889 million for water supply and sanitation schemes; Rs349 million for social welfare department; Rs46 million for women development; Rs7,361 million for local government and community development; Rs22,520 million for construction of thoroughfares in South Punjab; Rs7,901 million for irrigation department; Rs1,898 million for energy department; Rs7,679 million for public buildings; Rs3,667 million for urban development; Rs 11,086 million for agriculture sector; Rs152 million for the development of information and culture; Rs191 million for heritage department; Rs35,702 million for special programmes; Rs316 million for development of tourism and Rs1488 million for the environment and climate change in South Punjab.

Punjab Energy Minister Akhtar Malik said that the Punjab government had fulfilled its promise to make a separate budget for South Punjab as the provincial government has published a separate book of budget document for the Southern region.

Talking to media on Monday, Malik revealed that a hefty amount has been earmarked for health, energy, agriculture and industry in the budget.

The South Punjab budget document consisting of 284 pages contains details of annual development programmes that will be launched in the region this fiscal.

DG Khan gets big chunk of ADP

For Dera Ghazi Khan, special funds have been allocated for the establishment of five colleges in Reinra, Tibbi Qaisrani, Kot Chattah and Mana Ahmadani. Rs530 million grants have also been set aside for setting up two universities; University of Taunsa and Women University in DG Khan district.

The provincial government has allocated funds to build a new emergency and an OPD block in DG Khan. Grants will be given for the upgradation of 15 Basic Health Units (BHU) in the district. Allocations have been made for the construction of 100 small roads. Rs200 million have been earmarked for two mega sewerage programmes in the district.

Bahawalpur to get Rs12b development fund

Bahawalpur, another big city of South Punjab will get a Rs12 billion chunk in the provincial budget.

Yazman will get Rs2.10 billion, Khairpur Tamewali will have Rs710 million and Hasilpur will receive more than Rs930 million for development schemes.

Reporters Raza Malik, Mehmood Zaheer