ISLAMABAD: The government has increased development funds under Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the previous four years by 86 per cent from Rs 540 billion in the year 2013-14 to Rs 1001 billion in the current fiscal year to boost socio-economic development of the country.
Giving details about the performance of ministry of planning, an official in the ministry told APP that the development budget during the fiscal year 2017-18 was increased by 25 per cent as compared to the development budget of Rs 800 billion during 2016-17.
For various development projects of federal ministries, the total budget has increased from Rs 362 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 319 billion while for Higher Education Commission the development budget rose to Rs 35 billion in 2017-18 from Rs 18.43 billion in 2013-14.
During the year 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17, an amount of Rs 27 billion, Rs 20.5 billion, and Rs 21.48 billion was allocated respectively for various development projects of HEC.
Meanwhile, the allocation for National Highway Authority has also increased to Rs 325 billion during the year 2017-18 from an allocation of Rs 63 billion in 2013-14.
For WAPDA (Power), the development budget also increased from Rs 51.54 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 63 billion.
Similarly, the development budget of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK block and other projects), the development funds allocation rose from Rs 19.99 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 13.3 billion in 2015-16 and to Rs 25 billion in 2017-18.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release of funds. The commission releases 20 per cent of funds in first quarter (July September), 20 per cent in second quarter (October December), 25 per cent third quarter (January March) and 35 per cent in fourth quarter (April June).
