KARACHI, May 26: The Sindh government is asking for quick release of about Rs15 billion from Islamabad for which President Pervez Musharraf had himself made commitments on different occasions.

President Pervez Musharraf had promised grants and funds for various water supply schemes, drainage projects, sport complex, irrigation schemes, education and health projects during his visits to Sindh and in his meeting with provincial government leaders in Islamabad.

Instead of releasing the promised funds, the finance ministry either ignored completely the promise made or released only a small token amount. Last Saturday, when the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) held its meeting in Islamabad to discuss a proposal of Rs152 billion Public Sector Development Plan, the Sindh ministers in charge of planning and development and finance preferred to stay away and chose instead to brief President Musharraf, who was in Karachi that day.

Led by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, the Sindh planning and development minister Shoaib Bokhari and finance minister Syed Sardar Ahmad reminded the president on Saturday of the promises he had made for various projects and the response of the finance ministry.

The Sindh chief minister and other members of his cabinet are expected to raise all these issues next Thursday when the National Economic Council meets with Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali in the chair.

A major issue in the NEC would be the National Finance Commission award. All the provinces are expected to make a unanimous demand for adequate monetary compensation because of no fresh resource allocation.

The Sindh government now wants a revision of the PSDP 2003-04 to include all the infrastructure projects with adequate allocation of funds, so that development pace could be maintained in the province.

The Sindh government wants Islamabad to allocate Rs5 billion for five major infrastructure projects of the province in the next year's PSDP. These are: Revitalisation of Karachi Circular Railway, Upgradation of Keenjhar Lake System to ensure water supply to Karachi, greater Hyderabad Water Supply Scheme, Greater Hyderabad Sewerage Project, Waste Water Management Project for Orangi, Korangi and Lines Area. These projects would immediately need a total of Rs12 billion, and more in the coming years.

There is also a demand to provide Rs700 million for six projects in the 2003-04 PSDP under President's directive for which the finance ministry was informed in March. These projects are: water loss reduction and system strengthening project in Karachi, water supply and drainage schemes in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and Sukkur, and incomplete police schemes taken up about ten years ago under Sindh Action Plan.

President Musharraf had recently promised to give Rs1 billion grant assistance to Sindh government for developing infrastructure facilities in coal fields of Thar. The finance minister too endorsed the promise but no funds have been provided in the 2003-04 PSDP.

A revamping and rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage system was promised by President Musharraf as fast-track project. It was originally estimated to cost Rs10 billion. The Sindh government's estimate is Rs13 billion. This project has been processed and approved at all the administrative tiers. The federal government has not released any funds for this project whereas Rs624 million are being shown as expenditure.

Construction of a bridge over river Indus to connect Khairpur and Larkana is the other vital project that the Sindh government wants to be given priority consideration.

There is also a complaint that the finance ministry did not provide the promised funds under Khushal Pakistan project. There is now a demand of Rs2 billion under this programme.

A major issue raised with the president and likely to figure in the next NEC is the 'federalisation' of highways in Sindh. The Karachi-Hyderabad super highway was transferred to the National Highway Authority in February 2000. The Karachi-Thatta-Hyderabad highway was also federalised in November 2000. It was done on the NHA commitment that the Karachi-Hyderabad Superhighway would be converted into an expressway. There was also a promise of upgradation of Karachi-Thatta-Hyderabad highway.