Experts expect the government to focus on social sector projects in the upcoming budget

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Avni Kapoor, senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and lead of the Accountability Initiative, said she hopes that the upcoming budget will focus on utilisation of funds and better implementation of existing projects under the social sector. "The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has released only 25 per cent of its funds till November 2022 — though it was better than the same period last year, it is not very good for important projects under the ministry," he said. Even the budget for 2022-23 has seen a decline compared to the previous year's budget estimates. For example, umbrella programs for the development of other vulnerable groups and many projects in the central sector have declined. With fewer releases, revised estimates and actual costs are likely to be lower. "