Over Rs167.942bn development funds released so far

ISLAMABAD: The government has released Rs167.942 billion for different social sector developmental projects till November 18 under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2016 17 against the total allocation of Rs 800 billion.

An amount of Rs7.234 billion has been released for different projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission against its total allocation of Rs 27.690 billion for fiscal year 2016 17, according to the data released by the Planning Commission of Pakistan here Friday.

The government released Rs 13.522 billion for uplift and development of Pakistan Railways in order to improve the performance and service delivery of Railways as against the total allocation of Rs 41 billion for the current financial year.

In order to improve and modernize the road infrastructure, the government has released Rs 19.008 billion for different developmental projects under National Highway Authority (NHA) against the total allocations of Rs188 billion for current year's development programme.

Under PSDP 2016 17, development programme, an amount of Rs 4.371 billion has been released for different projects of Higher Education Commission in order to promote higher education as against the total allocations of Rs 21.486 billion.

The government released Rs5.907 billion for the National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Division as the government has earmarked Rs 24.951 billion in it Federal PSDP for the uplift of health sector of the country.

An amount of Rs 3.840 billion has released for Water and Power Division (water sector) for the construction and development of water reservoirs in order to water conservation for irrigation and power generations against the total allocation of Rs31.71 billion.

Meanwhile, a sum of Rs 2.307 billion has released for different projects of Planning, Development and Reforms Division against its total allocations of Rs11.997 billion for current fiscal year.

Under development programme, the government has so far released Rs2.550 billion for Housing and Works Division as against the total allocation of Rs 7.127 billion for the fiscal year 2016-17.

As many as Rs 4.604 billion has released for Interior Division as the government has earmarked Rs 11.554 billion for different developmental projects of Interior Ministry.

The government has released Rs6.8 billion for Water and Power Division (power sector) against the total allocation of Rs 130 billion for current financial year in order to build water reservoirs to overcome the future demand of water.

Under PSDP, 2016 17 an amount of Rs 5.050 billion has released for Azad Jammu and Kashmir block and other projects as against the total allocation of Rs 14.7 billion for current fiscal year.

In addition, the government has so far released Rs4.740 billion for Gilgit Baltistan and Rs 8.254 billion for SAFRON and Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) respectively.

The government released Rs42.562 billion for special federal development programme for Temporary Displaced Persons (TDPs) against the total allocation of Rs 100 billion.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism to release funds. The commission releases 20 percent of funds in first quarter (July September), 20 percent in second quarter (October December), 30 percent in 3rd quarter (January March)and 30 percent in fourth quarter (April June).