mordant wit

A grant of Rs 100 million, allegedly being spent on the purchase of 43 vehicles, including Prado jeeps, 2800cc double-cabins, from the Canadian government’s funds given for improving the quality of primary and middle school education in Sindh, has triggered a protest from the Planning Division.

An amount of Rs 55 million is also being allegedly allocated for petrol of these 43 vehicles. Keeping in view the poor condition of education in Sindh, the Canadian government had converted its loan into a grant to help the provincial government improve the quality of academic institutions.

The Planning Division, in its comments to be submitted to the CDWP, has questioned the spending of grant money meant for a literacy project allegedly on purchase of 43 cars. The project document submitted to the CDWP says that when this project reached the Planning Division for review, it was revealed that the Sindh government was buying 43 vehicles from the Canadian government’s grant for improving education in the province.

In its comments on the project, the Planning Division said the Sindh government was already undertaking several projects to improve education in the province. It said the provincial government should avoid duplication of activities in the field of teachers’ training and capacity-building.

Evaluating the project, the Planning Division officials said the entire project is silent over who would meet the office and maintenance (O&M) cost once the project was completed. They said the sponsors should provide the O&M cost requirements. They said the project also seeks foreign and local consultancy, but the proposal does not contain the terms of reference of consultants.

Likewise, the Planning Division said repair and renovation of existing institutions will be carried out and for it an amount of Rs225 million would be used. The proposal does not contain details of civil work.

On the issue of vehicle purchase plan, the Planning Division said 25 Toyota Hiace vans are proposed to be used for follow-up purposes and 14 Toyota double-cabin vehicles are proposed to be used by the project director office to look after the field work, monitoring of activities and for evaluation. It has also been proposed to purchase two Prado jeeps and two Cultus Suzuki cars.



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