ISLAMABAD: The government has released more than Rs2.829 billion for the ministry of petroleum and natural resources under the public sector development programme till date against the total allocation of Rs4.251 billion for the fiscal year of 2016/17.
Official data showed that Rs415.8 million was released for acquisition of four drilling rigs with accessories for the Geological Survey of Pakistan, while fund amounting to Rs131.6 million was provided for appraisal of newly discovered coal resources of Badin coal field and its adjoining areas of southern Sindh.
Moreover, Rs20 million was released to explore and evaluate metallic minerals in Bela and Uthal areas, district Lasbella of Balochistan.
The government disbursed Rs11.3 million for exploration of tertiary coal in the
central salt range, Punjab, besides releasing more than Rs2.059 billion for supply of gas to various villages and localities.
An amount of Rs332.2 million was for provision of sui gas to three localities of district Mansehra, Rs656.7 million for various villages of district Thatta and Sajawal, Rs170.6 million for various villages of district Sheikhupura, Rs532.7 million villages of Hafizabad, Rs369 for district Okara villages, Rs163.8 million for district Mardan and Rs25.6 million for villages of district Attock.