Editorial
Our ambitious ADP
Implementation is key
A 28% increase in the recently approved Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Tk. 46,000 crore for the coming fiscal year brings with it several questions, the key one being, how far will it be implemented?
Of the ADP of the last fiscal year, only 60% has been implemented in the last 10 months, leaving Tk. 14,221 crore of funds to be spent in the remaining two months. Neither has any progress been made under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), an initiative of the current government to encourage private investment. In the last two fiscal years, Tk. 2,500 crore and Tk. 3,000 crore respectively were allocated to PPP but not a penny has been spent. The 16 PPP projects included in the new ADP will really put the government to test.
According to experts, a big ADP also comes with increased risks such as to quality, proper distribution of funds and projects based on political considerstions -- the latter an even greater concern with regards to a block allocation of more than Tk. 700 crore. We should also be careful about drawing satisfaction from the fact that our dependence on foreign aid has decreased, as it may well be that the failure to implement has led to reduced foreign aid resulting in less dependence.
A recent move by the government to speed up the implementation process by giving the concerned ministries more financial authority has been welcomed, subject to a proper system of check and balance and efficient monitoring mechanisms. Previous measures taken to speed up the ADP implementation process included providing ministries with instructions regarding development projects early on and the relaxation of procurement laws, all of which we hope will serve to speed up the process and ultimately increase implementation. The assigning of competent project directors following the dismissal of incompetent ones, as suggested by the Prime Minister herself, is also vital.
We stress here that while allocation of funds is all well and good, implementation is key. At the end of the year, rather than highly ambitious but unfulfilled plans on paper, we wish to see tangible results towards development through quality private spendings.
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