Govt releases Rs429.04 billion for development projects

ISLAMABAD: The government has so far released over Rs429.040 billion for different social sector development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015/16 against the total allocations of Rs700 billion earmarked for the current fiscal year.

A sum of Rs97.032 billion has been released for the Water and Power Development Authority’s (Wapda) power sector, out of the total allocated amount of Rs113.896 billion for the current year, according to the latest data of the Ministry of Planning Development and Reform.

Water and Power Division (Water Sector) has been released Rs21.025 billion for its water reservoir building projects against its total allocations of Rs30.120billion in the federal PSDP 2015/16.

The government released Rs64.049 billion for infrastructure development projects of the National Highway Authority (NHA) against its total allocation of Rs159.6 billion. An amount of Rs19.850 was released for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission projects against Rs30.408 billion allocated for the current fiscal.

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Commission has been provided Rs14.037 billion against Rs20.5 billion, while Rs1.040 billion were released for the Science and Technological Research Division total allocation of Rs1.510 billion.

Under PSDP 2015/16 Rs13.678 billion have been released for the Railways Division for which an amount of Rs41 billion was earmarked in the budget.

Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Division has been provided Rs15.407 billion so far against the total allocations of Rs20.701 billion, while Rs5.476billion have been released for the Finance Division out of its total allocation of Rs12.684 billion.

Housing and Works Division has been given Rs1.455 billion out of its total Rs2.730 billion allocated in the current fiscal. The government released Rs840.125 million to the National Food Security and Research Division and Rs500 million for SPARCO, according to the data.

The government has released Rs700 million for the Aviation Division, Rs241 million for the Cabinet Division, Rs1,404 million for the Capital Administration and Development Division, Rs16 million for Climate Change Division, Rs234.850 million for Commerce Division, Rs1,133 million for the Defence Divisions, and Rs900 for the Defence Production Division.

Similarly, Rs2,151 million have been released for the Federal Education and Professional Training Division, Rs646 million for Petroleum and Natural Resources Division, and Rs1,197 million for the Law Justice and Human Rights Division.

An amount of Rs12.706 billion has been released for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other projects against the total allocation of Rs13.3 billion this fiscal.

The government also released Rs19.019 billion for the development and uplift of the Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) and SAFRON for which the government has allocated Rs19.700 billion for the fiscal year 2015/16.

For Gilgit-Baltistan, the government released Rs8.969 billion against the total Rs9.937 billion allocated this year.

The government has also released Rs20 billion for Pakistan Millennium Development Goals and community development programmes to improve the human development index.

The government released Rs63.110 billion for the rehabilitation of the Temporary Displaced Persons (TDPs) and for security enhancement.

The Ministry of Planning Development and Reform has been following a proper mechanism to release funds as per quarterly ceilings.