EMIS Integration Mandatory for Project Funding, Says Chief Adviser

Mar 3, 2025 23:09

Mar 4, 2025 00:10

All projects must be incorporated into the Enterprise Management Information System (EMIS) software to ensure regular updates on their progress, as directed by the Chief Adviser. If a project lacks updates in the system, the Ministry of Finance will not release funds. Additionally, the Chief Adviser has emphasized the importance of environmental considerations in project approval.

Following the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Monday (March 3) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Planning Adviser Dr. Wahid Uddin Mahmud briefed the press on the key decisions taken under the chairmanship of NEC Chairperson and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Dr. Wahid Uddin Mahmud stated, "This fiscal year, we intend to keep the Annual Development Programme (ADP) relatively smaller. Allocating large funds without ensuring proper utilization does not reflect well. Moreover, a significant shift is coming in budget management. With lower revenue collection, we will not allocate funds while maintaining a high deficit."

He further reiterated the Chief Adviser’s directive regarding EMIS integration, explaining that project updates will be monitored through the system, and without updates, no funds will be disbursed. "Environmental considerations will be strictly enforced in project approvals. We all know how approvals from the Department of Environment were manipulated in the past. Even for constructing houses, irregularities occurred in obtaining environmental clearance. These will now be strictly monitored," he added.

During the briefing, it was revealed that the current ADP allocation for the ongoing fiscal year stands at Tk 2.65 trillion (excluding allocations for autonomous bodies). Of this, Tk 1.65 trillion comes from government funds, while Tk 1 trillion is sourced from foreign loans. However, in the revised ADP, the total allocation has been reduced to Tk 2.16 trillion, reflecting a Tk 490 billion cut. Under the revised plan, government funding will be Tk 1.35 trillion, while foreign loans will contribute Tk 810 billion.

The number of ongoing projects has increased from 1,352 in the original ADP to 1,437 in the revised ADP. Additionally, the number of unapproved new projects has declined from 910 to 770.

The five sectors receiving the highest allocations in the revised ADP are:

Transport and communication: Tk 482.53 billion
Power and energy: Tk 318.97 billion
Education: Tk 203.49 billion
Housing and community facilities: Tk 196.53 billion
Local government and rural development: Tk 169.09 billion

Among ministries, the highest allocation has been granted to the Local Government Division (Tk 361.58 billion), followed by the Power Division (Tk 214.75 billion) and the Road Transport and Highways Division (Tk 186.24 billion).

The briefing also revealed that ADP implementation in the first seven months (July–January) of the current fiscal year stood at 21.52%, compared to 27.11% in the same period last year. Ministries and divisions managed to spend Tk 598.77 billion during this period, whereas Tk 744.64 billion was spent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), the total ADP allocation in the last fiscal year was Tk 2.75 trillion, later revised to Tk 2.54 trillion with a Tk 202.82 billion cut. At the end of the fiscal year, ministries and divisions spent Tk 2.06 trillion, achieving 80.92% of the revised allocation.

In previous years, the trend of cutting allocations mid-year and actual spending falling below the revised budget has persisted:

FY 2022-23: Original ADP Tk 2.56 trillion, revised to Tk 2.36 trillion, final spending Tk 2.01 trillion (85%).
FY 2021-22: Original ADP Tk 2.37 trillion, revised to Tk 2.11 trillion, final spending Tk 2.03 trillion (92.98%).
FY 2020-21: Original ADP Tk 2.15 trillion, revised to Tk 2.09 trillion, final spending Tk 1.72 trillion (82.11%).

With stricter financial oversight and mandatory project tracking through EMIS, the government aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in ADP implementation.