The government has so far released a total of Rs 101.1 billion under its Public Sector Development Programmes (PSDP)-2012-13 against the total allocation Rs 233 billion up to December 21, 2012, it is learnt. According to the latest data of the Planning Commission, Rs 55.7 billion has been released for 345 infrastructure development projects and Rs 42.3 billion has been released for 688 social sector projects.
Another Rs 1.1 billion has been released for 68 other projects and Rs 2 billion for Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). These releases have been made against Rs 233 billion PSDP allocations for current fiscal year for the development of different sectors in the country.
The total size of the PSDP for the year 2012-13 is Rs 360 billion, including Rs 100 billion foreign aid, which is managed by Economic Affairs Division and Rs 27 billion special programmes, release of which are made by Cabinet Division or Finance Division.
Total cost of 345 infrastructure projects has been estimated at Rs 2346.7 billion, out of which Rs 211.1 including Rs 85.6 billion foreign aid have been earmarked in the 2012-13 budget; the total cost of 688 social sector projects is Rs 549.8 billion, of which Rs 135.9 billion have been allocated in the current PSDP with foreign aid of Rs 8.4 billion.
The cost of 68 other projects has been estimated at Rs 40.6 billion out of which Rs 3 billion have been earmarked in the PSDP 2012-13 while Rs 10 billion have been earmarked for ERRA in the current development programme. The Planning Commission normally releases 20percent of funds in first quarter (July- September), 20percent in second quarter (October-December), 25percent third quarter (January-March) and 35 percent in fourth quarter (April-June). Economic experts maintain that government may try to maximise release of funds out of Rs 360 billion on PSDP for development projects within the first half of the current financial year due to the upcoming general elections.
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