PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has scrapped 601 development projects, saving a whopping Rs473.74 billion.
The move is part of the government’s efforts to rationalize its development program for the financial year 2024-25 which is expected to help optimize resources and prioritize development projects that are critical to the province’s growth and development.
According to documents, the government has dropped 391 projects from 33 administrative departments, limited the scope of 155 projects, and frozen 55 projects, resulting in a significant reduction in expenditure.
The provincial Planning and Development (P&D)Department had initiated the rationalization process on April 3, seeking details from all administrative departments about their development projects. After a thorough review, 601 projects were identified as unnecessary or redundant, leading to the massive saving.
The scrapped projects include 47 road construction projects, saving Rs 76. 21bn, 66 multi-sector development projects, saving Rs 74. 53bn, and 46 primary and secondary education projects, saving Rs 47. 86bn. Other scrapped projects include 37 higher education projects, saving Rs 42.46bn, 39 health projects, saving Rs 31. 13bn, 48 irrigation projects, saving Rs 29. 94bn, and 29 municipal projects, saving Rs 15.19bn.
Additionally, 23 urban development projects were scrapped, saving Rs 16bn, 22 tourism projects, saving Rs 15bn, 10 energy and electricity projects, saving Rs 10bn. The government also scrapped 13 science and information technology projects, saving Rs 9.18bn, 12 law and justice projects, saving Rs 8. 87bn, 24 youth and sports projects, saving Rs 7. 93bn, and 17 social welfare projects, saving Rs 7.32bn.
Other projects that were scrapped include 14 agriculture projects, saving Rs 6. 82bn, 12 forestry projects, saving Rs 6bn, 10 water supply projects, saving Rs 5. 94bn, and 22 religious affairs and culture projects, saving Rs 5.29bn.
