The government has released Rs 248.1 billion (31 per cent), including Rs 58.6 billion foreign aid, for different development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2016-17 against the total budget allocation of Rs 800 billion. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, the government has released Rs 61.5 billion (26 per cent) including Rs 3.8 billion for development projects of various federal ministries against the total budget allocation of Rs 234.3 billion.
However, the government has yet to release any funds for development projects of Foreign Affairs Division, National History and Literary Heritage Division, Textile Industry Division and GAS Infrastructure Development Fund. The government released Rs 79.1 billion, including Rs 36.34 billion foreign aid, for infrastructure projects of National Highway Authority (NHA) against the budgeted allocation of Rs 188 billion. The government has also released Rs 13.5 billion for development projects of Pakistan Railway Division against total budget allocation of Rs 41 billion for current fiscal year 2016-17.
Planning Commission released Rs 7.23 billion, including Rs 3.6 billion foreign aid, for different projects of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission against the total budget allocation of Rs 27.7 billion for fiscal year 2016-17. During the period under review, an amount of Rs 6 billion, including Rs 82 million foreign aid, 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 Rs 15.7 billion, including Rs 15.6 foreign aid, for development projects of Water and Power Development Authority (power sector) against the total budget allocation of Rs 130 billion for current financial year. Almost all power projects are foreign-funded projects.
Under the PSDP 2016-17, an amount of Rs 2.6 billion was released for different development projects of Housing and Works Division against the total budget allocation of Rs 7.13 billion. The government released Rs 514.9 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 844 million for Capital Administration and Development Division, Rs 10.8 million for Climate Change Division, Rs 460 million for Defence Production Division, Rs 4.7 billion for Interior Division, Rs 108.4 million for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Rs2.31 billion for Planning, Development and Reform.
Under the PSDP 2016-17, the government has released Rs 4.37 billion for different projects of Higher Education Commission as against the total allocations of Rs21.486 billion.
An amount of Rs 7.6 billion has been released for the National Health Services, Regulation and Co-ordination Division against the budget allocation of Rs 24.951 billion in the PSDP for the uplift of health sector of the country. The government released Rs 800 million for the development projects of Suparco. 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 6.5 billion including Rs 1.5 billion foreign aid for development projects of Azad Jammu and Kashmir against the total budget allocation of Rs 14.7 billion for current fiscal year. The government also released Rs 4.7 billion funds for development projects of Gilgit-Baltistan against the Rs 11.1 billion budget allocation while Rs 8.3 billion have been released for the projects of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) against total of Rs 22.3 billion budget allocation.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has so far followed the stipulated mechanism for release of funds: first quarter (July-September) 20 per cent, second quarter (October-December) 20 per cent, third quarter (January-March) 30 per cent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 per cent.