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NCHD gets one year more
The News
Friday, November 28, 2008
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to retain the National
Commission for Human Development (NCHD), a brainchild of the
Musharraf government, despite its controversial role and has
allocated Rs551.3 million in taxpayer money for this entity.
An official report available with ‘The News’ disclosed that the NCHD,
whose purpose was to improve the social indicators of Pakistan to
meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) utilized funds for
getting 451 brand new vehicles, 1217 motor cycles, 7280 pieces of
office equipment (Generators, Air Conditioners, fans, IT services
etc) 65 laptops, 1861 computers, 17,696 pieces of furniture, 665
printers and 56 bicycles.
It was decided that the NCHD would not be abandoned for a year as a
high-powered committee constituted by the Prime Minister recommended
the government to release Rs551.3 million for the ongoing financial
year.
These funds will be utilized for continuation of Universal Primary
Education (UPE) and for administrative expenses of the NCHD only for
the ongoing fiscal year 2008-09.
The official report spells out that the NCHD would submit a detailed
report about its assets to Cabinet Division by end of the ongoing
month (November 2008).
“It was the unanimous view that NCHD (with what ever alternate name,
if any) should not be liquidated at this stage when donors are
concerned and likely to withdraw their support,” the official report
said and added that the Special Committee decided to continue
certain programs of the Commission and recommended that the largest
and most important of these being the Feeder School programs should
continue but in more focused and targeted manner.
The UPE program of the NCHD, the report states, may continue for one
more year only till the entire program is thoroughly reviewed.
The reactivation of 17,980 Feeder Schools in 94 districts with an
approved budget of Rs 449 million has been initiated in October
2008. A proposal for providing matching grants by the Government was
also considered for running a viable literacy program for which a
policy will be formulated to attract foreign donors.
“The special committee also decided to monitor the performance of
the working staff of the NCHD and all out efforts should be made to
protect assets of the Commission,” the official document stated and
added that the NCHD officials also informed that complete inventory
of fixed assets has already been sent to Cabinet Division.
The special committee was told that the NCHD established 38 hub
districts in the all four provinces and the AJK and the shifting of
its assets from 56 districts to these hub centers have been
completed. The NCHD has planned a detailed validation of assets in
respective locations.
Out of 38 hub clusters, there are 13 in Punjab, nine in Sindh, nine
in Balochistan, six in NWFP and one in FATA.
The total financing requirement for running feeder schools stood at
Rs581.936 million out of which district set up would cost Rs505.760
million, regional set up Rs69.840 million, and Project Management
Unit Rs6.336 million.
Total administrative cost for the NCHD stood at Rs102.3 million for
one year with staff cost Head Office Rs19.3 million, Head Office
expenses (including POL etc) Rs2.4 million, totalling the cost of
head office to the tune of Rs21.7 million.
The staff cost of 38 clusters district would require Rs62 million,
utilities cost of 38 clusters Rs4.6 million and rent of 38 clusters
Rs14 million, totalling the cost to the tune of Rs80.6 million for
one year. |
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