Planning Ministry authorizes release of over Rs160 billion for development projects

• The ministry so far has authorized releases of Rs. 46.494 billion against its allocations of Rs. 154.96 billion.
• The Planning Commission of Pakistan follows the specific mechanism for release of funds.
• The ministry has authorized an amount of Rs. 12 billion for the merged areas of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform has so far given authorization for the release of over Rs. 160.586 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-20, as against the total allocation of Rs. 701 billion.

Out of this total amount, the authorities concerned were sanctioned to release an amount of Rs. 61.957 billion for federal ministries, Rs. 50.212 billion for corporations and Rs. 8.788 billion for special areas, according to the latest data released by the ministry.

Out of these, Rs. 26.78 billion authorization has so far been made for security enhancement in the country for which the government had allocated Rs. 32.5 billion during the year 2019-20.

The ministry has authorized an amount of Rs. 12 billion for the merged areas of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) under the government's 10 years development programme.

Similarly, for Higher Education Commission the PSDP release would reach to Rs. 5.739 billion out of its total allocation of Rs. 29 billion while Rs. 4.891 billion were authorized to be released for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission for which the government had allocated Rs. 24.45 billion in the development budget.

For the National Highway Authority, the ministry so far has authorized releases of Rs. 46.494 billion against its allocations of Rs. 154.96 billion.

Under the annual development agenda, the ministry also authorized releases of Rs. 2.7 billion for Railways Division out of total allocation of Rs. 16 billion, Rs. 1.969 billion for Interior Division, and Rs. 3.234 billion for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Division.

The releases for Revenue Division would reach to Rs. 981.378 million out of total allocation of Rs. 1.9 billion while for Cabinet Division an authorization of Rs. 7.997 billion have been made so far against Rs. 39.986 billion.

The ministry has authorized releases of Rs. 5.416 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) block and other projects out of its allocations of Rs. 27.26 billion and Rs. 3.372 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (Block and other projects).

The Planning Commission of Pakistan follows the specific mechanism for release of funds.

During first quarter (July-September) it releases 20 percent of development funds, in second quarter (October-December) 20 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 per cent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 percent.