Govt releases over Rs5.993bn for Finance Division projects

ISLAMABAD: The government has so far released Rs 5,993.036 million for various projects of Finance Division out of its total allocations of Rs 10,159.222 million earmarked under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2016- 17.

The government released all allocated funds of Rs 700 million for Greater Karachi Sewerage Plant (S-III) Karachi, while Rs 700 million have been released for Gwadar Development Authority out of its total allocations of Rs 1,000 million.

The government released all allocated funds of Rs 1,000 for Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme (K-IV). The project is being executed on 50:50 cost sharing basis, according to data of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms.

The government released Rs 163 million for construction of flyover at Koyala Phattak, Samangli Road Quetta.

The government released Rs 400 million for Khyber Institute of Child Health and Children Hospital (District Peshawar) out of its total allocations of Rs 650 while Rs 100 million have been provided for widening and carpeting of Booni-Buzand Torkhow Road Chitral out of its total allocations of Rs 250 for PSDP 2016-17.

The government has also released Rs 140 million for construction of fish landing jetty and allied harbor facilities at Pishukan Gwadar while an amount of Rs 140 million have been provided for construction of fish landing jetty and allied harbor facilities at Surbandar East Bay Gwadar.

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

An amount of Rs 58.839 million has been released for construction of Eastern and expansion of Southern sewerage treatment plants under Hyderabad package while Rs 100 million have been provided for construction and improvement of roads in urban areas of Hyderabad district.

As many as Rs 172.578 billion have been provided for Phase-II of Debt for Education SWAP-II (German Assisted) while an amount of Rs 59.307 have been released for capacity building of teachers training institutions and training of elementary school teachers in Punjab.

The government also released Rs 230 million for automation project of Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS), Islamabad while Rs 161.7 million have been released for Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Mother and Child Healthcare Center, Nawabshah city.

An amount of Rs 400 million have been released for Khyber Institute of Child Health and Children Hospital, Peshawar while Rs 54 million have been released for up-gradation and modernization of Pakistan Mint Lahore.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government has so far released about Rs 701.172 billion for various ongoing and new projects of all the ministries and divisions under PSDP 2016-17 out of its total Rs 800 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 given mechanism.

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