The caretaker government has released Rs 10 billion for different development projects under Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2018-19 against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 1,030 billion, including Rs 100 billion as off-budget item to finance projects in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
According to latest data of PSDP-2018-19 released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, the caretaker government has released a total of Rs 64.4 billion including Rs 54.4 billion in the month of June of previous fiscal year 2017-18 and Rs 10 billion in July and till August 3, 2018 of current financial year -2018-19 during its ongoing tenure.
The caretaker government has released Rs 5.202 billion funds for only four ministries and their divisions under the PSDP-2018-19. It has released Rs 200 million for Cabinet Division against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 1.12 billion. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission received Rs 4.63 billion out of Rs 30.424 billion budgeted allocation for development projects. An amount of Rs 334 million has been released for the Maritime Affairs Division against the budgeted allocation of Rs 10.12 billion and Rs 40 million for the Planning, Development and Reform Division for current fiscal year 2018-19.
However, the caretaker government did not release funds for other ministries, divisions and their departments including, Interior Division, Water Resources Division, Statistic Division, Law and Justice Division, Housing and Works Division, Ministries of Defense, Commerce, Inter-Provincial Coordination, Foreign Affairs and Finance, etc.
According to data, foreign aid was not released for development projects for financial year 2018-19 under the PSDP so far.
Spokesman Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, Asim Niazi told Business Recorder that the ministry is only releasing funds for ongoing development projects. He said that the caretaker government did not release any fund for new project. "We are releasing funds for ongoing projects as per schedule and demands of the relevant ministry," he added.
The government has released Rs 4.74 billion for development projects of Azad Jammu and Kashmir against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 29.88 billion for current fiscal year 2018-19. However, the government did not release funds for the development projects of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The funds are released as per quarterly ceilings: 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.