960408

Disbursement

delays hamper

SAP schemes

implementation

ASHRAF KHAN

KARACHI: The Social Action Programme (SAP) schemes are hanging in the balance due to immense shortfall in disbursement, which is running into billions of rupees, it is learnt.

For the year 1993-95 total shortfall in the disbursement has been Rs 20.5 billion. "The trend will cast a shadow on SAP-II fundings", well informed sources told Business Recorder on Monday.

For the year 1994-95 alone, the disbursement was running short by Rs 10.5 billion against total budget allocation of Rs 29.8 billion for the year, they said.

The situation in case of reimbursement was as grave as in disbursement, sources said. "There is a time lag or 60 to 80 days in submission of Statement of Expenditure (SoE) and final reimbursement by the donors", sources said.

The provinces and federal agencies have been lethargic in submitting the SoEs to the federal SAP Secretariat. The Punjab has submitted its SoE upto January 1995. Sindh, NWFP, FATA and Federal Health Ministry have submitted their SoE's up to December, 1995 whereas Balochistan, FANA, AJK and (ICT) Islamabad Capital Territory have submitted up to January, 1996, November, 1995, and October, 1995 respectively. The implementing agencies are supposed to submit their SoEs within a week or fortnight.

Sources further said it was decided to write a demi official (do) letter to the World Bank and other donors requesting them to expedite the reimbursements.

They said the shortfall of disbursement was mostly on the part of the implementing agencies. Moreover, they added, the terms of reference (ToR) prescribed by the donors, were not being strictly followed. Despite ban on transfer of SAP staff, the transfers were still being made in the provinces. Recently, SAP co-ordinator of Punjab was transferred in spite of the best efforts to retain him.

It is pertinent to mention that earlier a fact-finding mission of the donors cited the transfers of the executives as major cause of delay. Subsequently they had strictly forbidden such transfers.