The government is planning to release Rs2 billion for the maintenance and renovation of graveyards in the current financial year even though the utilisation of funds earmarked for the purpose in the previous financial year was abysmally low, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Only Rs97 million of the Rs1 billion released for graveyards was utilised in 2012-2013, an official speaking on the condition of anonymity said. The improvement of the condition of graveyards was understandably marginal, he said.
The official said the government had approved Rs2 billion for graveyards after the chief minister expressed his disapproval over the low utilisation of funds in the previous fiscal year. The low utilisation was against the spirit of good governance and the government had faced a lot of criticism over this, the official said.
A committee headed by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had been constituted last year to ensure utilisation of funds allocated for development and renovation schemes indentified by the district governments. The committee had made several recommendations in consultation with lawmakers including the identification of new schemes and renovating graveyards for non-Muslims.
The district coordination officers in the province had followed the committee’s directions and identified 597 graveyards for renovation projects.
The government had allocated Rs169.1 million for graveyards in the Lahore division, Rs151.65 million for Gujranwala, Rs73.75 million for Sargodha, Rs130.23 million for Fasialabad, Rs94.16 million for DG Khan, Rs88.64 million for Rawalpindi, Rs70.73 million for Sahiwal, Rs114.83 million for Multan and Rs106.86 million for Bahawalpur divisions. However, only Rs97 million was utilised. Rs2.5 million was utilised in Lahore, no funds were utilised in Rawalpindi, Sargodha and DG Khan. Rs29.2 million was utilised in Gujranwala, Rs11.7 million in Faisalabad, Rs19 million in Sahiwal, Rs20 million in Multan and Rs151 million in Bahawalpur. The chief minister had expressed his disapproval with the commissioners and DCOs and directed the chief secretary to press for better utilisation of funds in the next financial year.
The committee will continue to work with district governments this year to ensure utilisation. In addition to that, the chief secretary will monitor the utilisation.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2014.