Govt releases Rs2.979bln for uplift projects

ISLAMABAD: The government has so far released Rs2.979 billion for various projects of the Finance Division of its total allocations of Rs9.433 billion earmarked under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2016/17.

Of the total funds released, Rs700 million have been released for Gwadar Development Authority of its total allocations of Rs1,000 million.

An amount of Rs500 million has been released for Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) of its total allocations of Rs1,000 million allocated in the federal PSDP.

The project is being executed on 50:50 cost sharing basis, according to the data of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms.

The government released Rs163 million for the construction of flyover at Koyala Phattak, Samangli Road, Quetta.

According to the data, the federal government provided Rs280 million for Greater Karachi Sewerage of its 33 percent expenditure share in the project.

It released Rs160 million for Khyber Institute of Child Health and Children Hospital (District Peshawar) of the total allocations of Rs400 million, while Rs100 million have been provided for widening and carpeting of Booni-Buzand Torkhow Road Chitral of the total allocation of Rs250 million under PSDP 2016/17.

The government has also released Rs80 million for the construction of fish landing jetty and allied harbour facilities at Pishukan, Gwadar, while Rs80 million have been provided for the construction of fish landing jetty and allied harbour facilities at Surbandar East Bay Gwadar.

The federal government would share 80 percent cost of both these projects, the official data revealed.

Likewise, Rs58 million has been released for the construction of eastern and expansion of southern sewerage treatment plants under Hyderabad package, while Rs70 million has been provided for the construction and improvement of roads in urban areas of Hyderabad district.

As many as Rs172 billion have been provided for Phase-II of Debt for Education SWAP-II (German Assisted), while Rs59 million has been released for capacity building of teachers training institutions and training of elementary school teachers in Punjab.

The government also released Rs175 million for the automation project of the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS), Islamabad, while Rs161 million has been released for Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Mother and Child Healthcare Centre, Nawabshah.

An amount of Rs160 million has been released for Khyber Institute of Child Health and Children Hospital, Peshawar, while Rs41 million has been released for the upgradation and modernisation of Pakistan Mint Lahore.

The government has so far released around Rs549.979 billion for various ongoing and new projects of all the ministries and divisions under the PSDP 2016/17 of the total Rs800 billion allocations. The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release of funds and accordingly funds are released as per the given mechanism.

The commission releases 20 percent of funds in the first quarter (July-September), 20 percent in the second quarter (October-December), 30 percent in the third quarter (January-March) and 30 percent in the fourth quarter (April-June).