PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, April 02, 2014 - Peshawar—Participants of a seminar Tuesday called for increasing the overall education and health budgets of district Swabi and enhancing the level of public participation in budget making and oversight of expenditure.

The seminar organized by Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) in Swabi uncovered the findings of three research studies it had carried out in Swabi, Mardan and Peshawar District.

The organizers of the seminar recommended active involvement of community, civil society, parents while finalizing budget proposal.

The seminar criticized discrepancy between allocation of budget for male and female education. In the education budget of district Swabi, Mardan and Peshawar, which is a specifically gender sensitive budgeting, sector, allocation for female education is continually substantially less than what is allocated for male education.

The participants observed that the previous year’s health budget was brought forward with an incremental increase and no consideration was made about the needs of different health facilities.

It was suggested that community health mobilization be encouraged at village and union council level so that the poor and remote area get better access to health facilities.

Moreover, the budget should be so designed that it ensures quality health services at BHUs and RHCs at District level.

The seminar was attended by a large number of Civil Society Organizations, District Education Officers, ADO Education, DMS Bacha Khan Medical Complex and DMS District Head Quarter Hospital.—APP