The Public Sector Development Program under Review
The Public Sector Development Program under Review
Haseeb ur Rehman
ArticlesEditor's BlogLatest

The news of the cut of the allocation in the Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2018 – 19, of the projects meant for Balochistan Province was not considered enough, to have the murky news of the provincial Public Sector Development Program for Fiscal Year 2018 – 19, of Balochistan to be under review – for a cut in the allocation or scrape at all. Against the norms, this time the provincial PSDP has taken longer to see the light of the day for a kick start.

The news of the cut of the allocation in the Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2018 – 19, of the projects meant for Balochistan Province was not considered enough, to have the murky news of the provincial Public Sector Development Program for Fiscal Year 2018 – 19, of Balochistan to be under review – for a cut in the allocation or scrape at all. Against the norms, this time the provincial PSDP has taken longer to see the light of the day for a kick start.

The main reason is the one and only, the annual development program has been approved by the previous provincial government, therefore shall stand wrong, not to go with. The previous provincial was of the same party now in power.

Interestingly the matter was also enquired into; but that proved a futile exercise, as the responsibility could not be fixed, for the nothingness. After going through an examination and evaluation, the size of the PSDP was cut short, to the extent, only to accommodate the projects of the Ministers, the Provincial Assembly Members, those who are backing the sitting provincial government.

This led to the litigation and the PSDP 2018 – 19 landed in the High Court of Balochistan. The PSDP was debated in the courts of law, however, with a new dimension, at this time. The matter has already been examined with clear judgments, in the past, many times. But then the decisions of the court have been desecrated on one or the other pretext, thus the case stands under examination, at the cost of public money to be utilized in time and properly.

Public policy is the domain of the government to go with it, nevertheless judiciously, keeping in view the laws and rules of business, the socio – economic conditions of the the people being governed. This is a responsibility to shoulder with care, make the best utilization of the resources, for maximum benefit. It has been summarized that either the projects can be, either of social or economic or of environmental in nature.

A project shall have a social acceptance, in case of non the acceptance, it has to be created through social mobilization to make the project a success, by developing a sense of ownership among the beneficiaries. After all, it’s the acceptance of the projects which counts on the end of day.

Economically the project has to be viable and return enough in kind to remain a sustainable asset to flourish than to turn into a liability beard by the public finance. The projects have also to be environmental friendly, since, to pass on a more ambiance air to the coming generations, by saving the planet, accordingly the environmentally hazardous projects are discouraged in today’s world, for going green.

The differences are visible on the PSDP amongst the coalition partners, mainly over the size of the allocation being considered for each MPA, Special Assistant, Focal Person etcetra.

Whereas to accommodate opposition remain an anathema. According to a MPA, of the opposition party, that we are not being informed of the details on PSDP, whereas, we are being offered as much as peanuts, to have our consent, for passage of another PSDP for FY 2018 – 19.

The previous Balochistan government has passed the current PSDP FY 2018 – 19, of Rs 88.249 billion including Rs 11.089 billion of Foreign Project Assistance. The PSDP has two components the New schemes and the On-going schemes. The allocation for New schemes is 49.536 billion excluding the Rs 3.094 billion of Foreign Project Assistance and likewise for the On – going Rs 38.712 billion excluding the FPA Rs 7.995 billion.

The reliable sources have shared that releases for the On-going schemes has been made to the tune of Rs 18198.198 million. While the releases for the New schemes stand Rs 363.313 million. Hardly Balochistan would have a PSDP for this year, given the lapse of the precious time already wasted as well as the short time remaining in the closure of this Fiscal Year, since in the month of March, the current year budget review gets due.

Therefore, most probably the provincial PSDP will just remain under review and a paper work, with incremental releases to the powers that be. But it would not be out of place to suggest initiation of the work on the PSDP 2019 – 20 well in time, as per standards to make most of what we possess for public welfare.