The five ministries/departments including Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) on Monday claimed that the Finance Ministry has released Rs 27.1 billion funds ie, 27 percent of the total allocation of Rs 100.4 billion for the first half (July-December) of the current financial year 2009-10.
It was revealed on the first day of the Mid-Term Review of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) held in Planning Commission that the funds released to five ministries/departments ie Health, Education, Communication, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and Science and Technology were 27 percent of the total allocation.
These ministries claimed that they were released Rs 27.1 billion funds against expected amount of Rs 38.925 billion during July-December 2009 for development projects with a shortfall of Rs 11.8 billion. The government had allocated Rs 100.474 billion for these ministries in PSDP 2009-10.
The Ministry of Communication topped the list with Rs 10 billion against the promised Rs 11.5 billion, which was 87 percent of the total commitment. The government had allocated Rs 45.971 billion for the Communication Ministry in PSDP 2009-10. Sources said the Finance Ministry released Rs 6 billion to the Ministry of Health in fist six months of the current fiscal year against the committed amount of Rs 11 billion which was 55 percent of the total promised amount.
The total allocation for the Ministry of Health stands at Rs 23.154 billion for the current financial year. The Ministry of Education received funds amounting to Rs 2 billion against the cash plan of Rs 3.7 billion, which is 54 percent of committed amount. The total allocation for the Ministry of Education was Rs 8.551 billion in budget 2009-10 for development projects.
The PAEC authorities claimed during the mid-term review meeting that it received Rs 8.5 billion in July to December 2009 against the committed amount of Rs 11 billion. The funds released to PAEC were 77 percent of total pledged amount during the first half of the current financial year. PAEC was allocated Rs 19.53 billion in the federal budget for development projects.
The Science and Technology Ministry received Rs 600 million against total commitment of Rs 1725 million, which is 35 percent of total committed releases during the first half of the current financial year. The Ministry of Science and Technology was earmarked Rs 3.265 billion.