The government has released Rs 123.6 billion (15.5 percent) for different development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2016-17 against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 800 billion. According to latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, the government has released Rs 40.5 billion (17.3 percent) for development projects of various federal ministries against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 233.95 billion.
However, the government has yet to release any funds for development projects of Foreign Affairs Division, National History & Literary Heritage Division, Textile Industry Division and GAS Infrastructure Development Fund. The government released Rs 19 billion for infrastructure projects of National Highway Authority (NHA) against the budgeted allocation of Rs 188 billion. The government has also released Rs 9.4 billion for development projects of Pakistan Railway Division against total budgeted allocation of Rs 41 billion for current fiscal year 2016-17.
Planning Commission released Rs 6.34 billion for different projects of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 27.7 billion for fiscal year 2016-17. Under PSDP 2016-17, an amount of Rs 1.8 billion was released for different development projects of Housing and Works Division against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 7.13 billion. The government released Rs 264.7 million for different developmental projects of National Food Security and Research Division against the earmarked Rs 15.2 billion for the development of agriculture sector in the country. The government also released Rs 631.41 million for Capital Administration and Development Division, Rs 5.4 million for Climate Change Division, Rs 460 million for Defence Production Division, Rs 2.6 billion for Interior Division, Rs 54.2 million for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Rs 2.16 billion for Planning, Development and Reform.
During the period under review, an amount of Rs 3.38 billion was released for Water and Power Division (water sector) for the construction and development of water reservoirs for water conservation for irrigation and power generations against the total allocation of Rs 31.71 billion.
The Planning Commission has also released 6.8 billion for development projects of Water and Power Development Authority (Power Sector) against the total budgeted allocation Rs 130 billion for current financial year. Under PSDP 2016-17, the government has released Rs 4.37 billion for different projects of Higher Education Commission as against the total allocations of 21.486 billion.
A total of Rs 5.507 billion has been released for the National Health Services, Regulation and Co-ordination Division against the budgeted Rs 24.951 billion in the PSDP for the uplift of health sector of the country. The government has released Rs 42.6 billion for special federal development programme for Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) and security enhancement under current year''s development programme for the rehabilitations of TDPs as against the total allocation of Rs 100 billion.
The government released Rs 2.75 billion for development projects of Azad Jammu and Kashmir against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 14.7 billion for current fiscal year. The government also released Rs 4.5 billion funds for development projects of Gilgit-Baltistan against the Rs 11.1 billion budgeted allocation while Rs 4.14 billion has been released for the projects of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) against total of Rs 22.3 billion budgeted allocation.
Planning Commission of Pakistan has so far followed the stipulated mechanism for release of funds: first quarter (July-September) 20 percent, second quarter (October-December) 20 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 percent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 percent.