Rs68 bn allocated for schemes through lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: The government has allocated Rs68 billion for execution of development schemes through parliamentarians through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the budget for 2021-22.

For the SDGs programme, the government has allocated development funds of Rs46 billion under the Cabinet Division. Another Rs22 billion for SDGs supplementary funding under special programme in the budget for 2021-22 total the allocation to Rs68 billion that would be utilised on the schemes forwarded by parliamentarians.

Six energy projects with an installed capacity of around 3,584 MW are currently under construction, of which 720 MW Karot hydropower project is expected to be completed during 2021-22. The bLahore-Matiari Transmission Line project is also under implementation and expected to start commercial operations during 2021-22. The project has the capacity to evacuate up to 4,000MW electricity. In addition, physical work on the 1,124 MW Kohala and 700 MW Azad Pattan Hydro Power Project is expected to start in 2021-22.

The second phase of CPEC has been initiated with emphasis on industrialisation and development of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), agriculture modernization, S&T cooperation and socio-economic development. The overall objective is to reap dividends of the investment made in the first phase (2015-20) that has created an enabling environment for investment in other sectors as existing gaps in infrastructure and energy have been filled.

Several deliverables have been identified for the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) by all stakeholders. On the western alignment, Hakla-DI Khan and Zhob-Quetta sections are under construction, whereas the DI Khan-Zhob section is under discussion with Chinese side for financing and is expected to be launched during 2021-22. G2G Joint Working Group (JWG) on Transport Infrastructure is anticipated to be notified to prepare proposals of Realignment of Thakot-Raikot Section in 2021-22. The concessional financing agreement for landmark ML-1 project is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2021-22, and subsequently, arrangements will be made for groundbreaking of the project.

Industrial cooperation under CPEC framework significant progress, in terms of utility provision, has been made under the industrial cooperation in 2020-21. The current year will see more progress in terms of marketing of the prioritised SEZs. Moreover, joint industrial diagnostic studies have been completed for some sectors and major impediments have been identified. Both policy support and allied enabling environment have been formulated to improve the functionality of the prioritized SEZs.