The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, who was chairing a gathering, examined the District Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2025-26, making strategic choices aimed at promoting transparency and efficient execution of developmental projects throughout the regions.

The gathering took place at CM House and included Minister PandD Nasir Shah, Minister of Local Government Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Chairman PandD Najam Shah, Secretary to the CM Raheem Shaikh, Secretary for Local Governance Waseem Shamshad, Secretary of Finance Fayaz Jatoi, and several others.

The provincial budget for 2025-26 includes Rs55 billion set aside by the Sindh administration for district-level ADP projects.

Under the instructions of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the PandD Department held two sessions in July to gather information from the Finance Department regarding procedures, funding allocation plans, and fund dispersal according to the PFC Award 2007. Following thorough discussions, it was resolved to maintain the current method for executing the District ADP 2025-26, along with establishing a committee to enhance the system further.

In order to justify fund distribution, the Chief Minister opted to allocate 80 percent of resources to current projects and 20 percent to new initiatives. A project must have at least an approved budget of Rs. 5 million. Conversely, the upper cap stands at Rs. 40 million for District Development Committees (DDCs) and Rs. 60 million for District Development Boards (DDBs).

The Chief Minister stated that Additional Commissioners will serve as Project Directors for the initiatives within their individual districts. These initiatives will be developed by implementing agencies tasked with carrying out particular tasks and endorsed by District Development Committees or District Development Boards. “In order to avoid repetition, agencies and local organizations must confirm that the suggested projects were not included in any previously finished or current programs over the last three years,” directed the Chief Minister.

Murad Shah highlighted the importance of maintaining sector-specific ownership at the local level and stated that at least half of the expenses for every project must be set aside during this financial year. He further instructed that District ADP projects should preferably be finished within a single year, with exceptions permitted solely when there is compelling reasoning.

The CM also determined that funding distribution should prioritize finishing current projects within the fiscal year. There will be no changes or additional revisions to these initiatives, unless there are extraordinary situations like increased expenses or absence of critical elements. He mentioned that carrying over active programs should not last longer than two years.

Shah determined that no fresh initiatives should be designed with full funding for just one year; however, under exceptional circumstances, this period could extend to two years. Disbursement of money for continuing projects will occur in two equal parts, whereas for new programs, it will happen in four equal portions, provided that 60 percent of the earlier allocated funds have been used.

The head of government emphasized that district ADP resources should be used effectively, giving top priority to finishing current initiatives, while maintaining openness and responsibility throughout the procedure.

Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).