Promise far more than you can perform, for it is easy to find alibis for failing to fulfil promises. Fifteen years have elapsed since the Sindh government announced around 200 public welfare schemes with much fanfare but it has nothing to show in practical terms. Some of the projects have been left incomplete and some continue to exist on paper only. People had attached much hope when a decade ago the government had announced a plan to set up export processing zones in various districts and also earmarked funds for them. But despite fund allocation in every budget in the past 10 years, these projects remain incomplete. If these employment-generating schemes stay incomplete, they are as good as abandoned or non-existent. There are many other such schemes. Around 50 for education, 28 for irrigation, 23 for public health engineering, 30 for local government as well as a sizable number for health, sanitation, transport, and women empowerment.
In 2008, the education department planned to upgrade schools. Around 230 middle schools were to be upgraded to high schools and as many as 400 primary schools were to be made middle schools. Money was also allocated for the purpose, but 12 years down the road there is nothing to show for the financial allocations. In the province, most schools are primary schools. Money was allocated for many other such schemes over the years. However, it is the same story, with some variations, as mentioned above. Schemes aimed at improving the lot of the poor have met with an identical fate. In 2007, a scheme to develop model villages for the fishing community near Keenjhar and Manchhar lakes as well as in other places was announced. It, however, remains the proverbial slippery eel.
There is a monitoring and evaluation cell to keep a watch on the progress of welfare schemes, but it is said to exist for kickbacks only. The provincial information minister says the development schemes have been stalled because the Centre has not released Sindh’s share in the divisible pool. Sweet music to attending ears.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276102/many-schemes-little-development
Many schemes, little development : edit in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2020.
Promise far more than you can perform, for it is easy to find alibis for failing to fulfil promises. Fifteen years have elapsed since the Sindh government announced around 200 public welfare schemes with much fanfare but it has nothing to show in practical terms. Some of the projects have been left incomplete and some continue to exist on paper only. People had attached much hope when a decade ago the government had announced a plan to set up export processing zones in various districts and also earmarked funds for them. But despite fund allocation in every budget in the past 10 years, these projects remain incomplete. If these employment-generating schemes stay incomplete, they are as good as abandoned or non-existent. There are many other such schemes. Around 50 for education, 28 for irrigation, 23 for public health engineering, 30 for local government as well as a sizable number for health, sanitation, transport, and women empowerment.
In 2008, the education department planned to upgrade schools. Around 230 middle schools were to be upgraded to high schools and as many as 400 primary schools were to be made middle schools. Money was also allocated for the purpose, but 12 years down the road there is nothing to show for the financial allocations. In the province, most schools are primary schools. Money was allocated for many other such schemes over the years. However, it is the same story, with some variations, as mentioned above. Schemes aimed at improving the lot of the poor have met with an identical fate. In 2007, a scheme to develop model villages for the fishing community near Keenjhar and Manchhar lakes as well as in other places was announced. It, however, remains the proverbial slippery eel.
There is a monitoring and evaluation cell to keep a watch on the progress of welfare schemes, but it is said to exist for kickbacks only. The provincial information minister says the development schemes have been stalled because the Centre has not released Sindh’s share in the divisible pool. Sweet music to attending ears.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276102/many-schemes-little-development
Published in Pak Media comment and Pakistan