Given Sindh’s current low development spending, the directive given by the provincial chief minister to his economic team to increase the size of the Annual Development Plan 2012-13, and maximise schemes for public welfare, does not seem to be based on ground realities.

While the size and scope of next year’s ADP is yet to be confirmed ( probably set at Rs150), officials contacted said that only 54 per cent of the allocations of current fiscal year’s ADP had been utilised during its first 11 months. Apart from the increase in provincial ADP, as many as 166 schemes worth Rs48 billion are also reported to have been included for Sindh in the next year’s federal public sector development programme.

Officials of the Planning and Development Department have informed the chief minister that of the Rs111 billion ADP 2011-12, Rs92 billion had been released and so far 54 per cent of it has been spent while the remaining sum is expected to be utilised this month. This means that Rs59.94 billion has been spent during the first 11 months, how is it possible then that that the remaining Rs51.06 billion be consumed in June alone?

The chief minister, time and again, has said that the government had set four central precepts for the fiscal 2012-13 – an end to loadshedding, creation of more jobs, no new taxes and relief for farmers and the poor.

Recently while the chief minister was presiding over a high level meeting on next year’s budgetary proposals he stressed the need to accommodate a maximum number of schemes for public welfare, with focus on addressing the problems of the common man. He also advised his economic team to accommodate schemes suggested by MPAs and stress the completion of ongoing projects.

Several attempts made by this writer to contact the Sindh finance minister and his finance secretary proved futile. With inefficiency pervading the entire provincial administration, no one is willing to share information with journalists. While the federal government is giving out the latest economic trends so that market players make informed decisions, the provincial bureaucrats still have closed mindsets..

It is being officially stated that the provincial government, for the second consecutive year, will present the next tax-free budget on June 8, 2012. The paradigm shift from scheme-based approach to a planned -approach does not seem to be working and has resulted in a mass of unfinished projects.

The major scheme for rehabilitation of 200 flood affected villages, comprising 40,000 houses at a cost of Rs2 billion, has been far from satisfactory.

Reports coming from interior of Sindh show that many villages are still sunk in knee deep water from last year’s flood; damaged infrastructure including roads have not been yet fully repaired.

Ever since the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the province has had plenty of funds to complete the development works. However, it seems they have yet to gear up their machinery for sound project planning and quick implementation.

Furthermore the Sindh government’s performance lags behind that of other provinces. Its record increase in current expenditure to Rs40.7 billion is the highest in the country, followed only by that of Punjab at Rs35.2 billion.

Sindh’s government’s institutions are in a miserable condition and institutional reforms are vital to improving service delivery.

The province needs qualified professionals with a vision to help the political leadership to undertake the real task of nation-building which falls under the realm of the provinces.