July 2019 to 17 January 2020: Around 38.4 percent funds under CPEC released

Approximately 38.4 percent funds have been released from July 2019 to 17 January 2020 for projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - 11.52 percent lower than the 50 percent pledged for the first half of the fiscal year.

The government budgeted Rs 95.73 billion in the ongoing year for 31 CPEC projects at a total estimated cost of Rs 1.62 trillion under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and has so far released Rs 36.84 billion.

The funds are released as follows; first quarter (July-September) 20 percent, second quarter (October-December) 30 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 percent, and fourth quarter (April-June) 20 percent.

According to documents available with this correspondent, the government has not yet released any funds for seven CEPC development projects; (i) Gwadar Smart Environmental and Sanitation System and Landfill, (ii)Construction of Cross Border CFC Network (Khunjrab-Gwadar-Karachi) along CPEC Routs (Phase-II), (iii) Nokundi-Mashkhel Road, (iv) Mirpur-Mangla-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Road, (v) Up-gradation of Pakistan Railways existing Main Line (ML-1) and establishment of Dry port near Havelian (2018-22) Phase-1, (vi) Peshawar Karachi Motorway Project Construction of Sukkur-Multan Section (392 km) and (vii) New Gwadar International Airport NGIA Project. The federal government has released Rs 80 million out of Rs 100 million budgeted allocation for Establishment of Project Management Unit on China Pakistan Economic Corridor Industrial Cooperation Development Project, Rs 1.5 billion out of Rs 2 billion budgeted allocation for Construction of 02 Lane Highway from Basima to Khuzdar, Rs 1.15 billion out of Rs 1.93 billion for Construction of Burhan-Havelian Expressway (E-35), Rs 1 billion out of Rs 2.4 billion for Construction of KKH Phase-II Havelian-Thakot (118.057 Km) Part of CPEC -Revised, Rs 500 million out of Rs 1 billion for Dualization and Improvement of Existing N-50 from Yark-Sagu-Zhob, including Zhob bypass (210 km), Rs 2.801 billion out of Rs 3.5 billion for Karachi-Lahore Motorway (land acquisition) Sukkur-Hyderabad, Rs 750 million out of 1.5 billion for land acquisition, affected properties compensation and relocation of utilities for construction of Burhan/Hakla to DI Khan Motorway and Rs 1 billion out of 1.9 billon budgeted allocation for Peshawar Karachi Motorway Project Construction of Sukkur-Multan Section.

The government has released Rs 3 billion out of Rs 8 billion budgeted allocation for current fiscal year 2019-20 for Zhob to Kuchlak Road, Rs 320 million out of Rs 400 million for 5 MGD RO Sea Water Desalination Plant at Gwadar, Rs 640 million out of Rs 1 billion for Necessary Facilities of Fresh Water Treatment,, Water Supply and Distribution Gwadar, Rs 90 million out of Rs 2.4 billion for Construction of Eastbay Expressway, Rs 13.578 million out of Rs 27.156 million for Feasibility Study of Construction of Breakwaters, Rs 22.674 million out of Rs 425.58 million for Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute at Gwadar and Rs 13.025 million out of 26.05 million budgeted allocation for financial year 2019-20.

The entire amount has been released for the development projects including Construction of Motorway from Burhan-Hakla on M-1 to Dera Ismail Khan(Rs 11.5 billion), Improvement and widening of Chitral-Booni-Mastuj-Shandur (Rs 1 billion), Improvement, Up-gradation and Widening of Jaglot-Skardu Road(Rs 3.5 billion), Lahore-Multan Motorway (M-3 section) of Karachi-Lahore Motorway(Rs 4.5 billion), Land Acquisition and Resettlement for China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) Islamabad-Raiko Section (phase -I), Havelian-Thakot (Rs 1 billion), Expansion and Up-gradation of NGMS(3G/4G) Services and Seamless Coverage along KKH in Gilgit-Baltistan (Rs 600 million) and Preliminary Design/Drawing for Up-gradation/rehabilitation of Main Line (ML-I) and Establishment of Dry port near Havelian under CEPC and hiring of design/drawing vetting consultants.