The federal government has released Rs 289.16 billion (41.25 percent) including Rs 53.62 billion foreign aid (41.8 percent) for various ongoing and new development projects under Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2019-20 against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 701 billion.
According to latest data of PSDP 2019-20 released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, the government released Rs 133.1 billion (43.84 percent) including Rs 7.88 billion foreign aid for development projects of various ministries, divisions and related departments out of Rs 303.66 billion budgeted allocation.
The government released Rs 87.91 billion for the development projects of National Highway Authority (NHA) out of Rs 154.966 billion budgeted allocation and Rs 26.78 billion have been released for security enhancement against Rs 32.5 billion budgeted allocation. However, on the website of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, the releases of funds for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) were not shown in summary of authorized funds while the funds of these departments had been shown in previous summaries.
The government released Rs19.3 billion for the development projects of Cabinet Division against Rs 39.99 billion total budgeted allocation, Rs 1.64 billion for development projects of Aviation Division against the total of Rs 1.27 billion budgeted allocation which is more than Rs 0.37 billion of allocation, Rs 3.8 billion for development projects of Climate Change Division, Rs 50 million for Commerce Division, Rs 850 million for Defense Production Division, and Rs 4.89 billion for Finance Division.
The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform released Rs 6.43 billion for development projects of the Railway Division against Rs 16 billion budgeted allocation, Rs 2.12 billion for development project for Science and Technology Research Division, Rs 3.19 billion for Revenue Division, Rs 761.96 million for Industries and Production Division, Rs 194.888 million for Information and Broadcasting Division and Rs 2 billion for Information Technology and Telecom Division.
The ministry released Rs 1.94 billion for development projects of Federal Education and Professional Training Division out of Rs 4.796 billion budgeted allocation and Rs 14.1 billion have been released out of Rs 29 billion for Higher Education Commission.
The government released Rs 4.47 billion out of Rs 9.85 billion for development projects of Interior Division and Rs 5.66 billion for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division. A total of Rs 19.9 billion have been released for Foreign Affairs Division against Rs 29.05 billion budgeted allocation.
The ministry released a total of Rs 36 billion for Water Resources Division, Rs 3 billion for Planning, Development and Reform Division, Rs 58 million for Narcotic Control Division, Rs 150.74 million for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Rs 81 million for Textile Industry Division. A total of Rs 223.167 million has been released for development projects of Defense Division, Rs 6 billion for development projects of PEPCO and Rs 5.762 billion for National Food Security and Research Division.
The government released Rs 128 billion for the development projects of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA).
A total of Rs 8 billion have been released out of Rs 48 billion budgeted allocation under the Merged Areas (FATA) 10 Years Development Plan. The Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform also released Rs 12.98 billion against the total of Rs 27.264 billion budgeted allocation for development projects of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Rs 8.368 billion for the development projects of Gilgit-Baltistan against Rs 17.585 billion budgeted allocation. The funds are released as per quarterly ceilings; first quarter (July-September) 20 percent, second quarter (October-December) 30 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 percent, and fourth quarter (April-June) 20 percent.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019