ISLAMABAD: The government has released over Rs607.44 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2017-18 for various ongoing and new schemes against the total allocation of Rs1,001 billion.
The released funds include Rs138.9 billion for federal ministries and Rs48.15 billion for special areas, according to latest data released by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.
Out of these allocations, the government has released Rs243.25 billion for National Highway Authority for which Rs324.72 billion have been allocated for the year 2017-18, whereas for WAPDA (Power), an amount of Rs35.768 billion has been released out of total allocation of Rs60.9 billion.
Similarly, Rs5.341 billion have been released for the Communication Division (other than the National Highway Authority) for which the government has earmarked Rs13.66 billion under PSDP 2017-18.
Railways Division received Rs18.27 billion out of its total allocation of Rs42.9 billion whereas Aviation Division received Rs2.45 billion out of its total allocation of Rs4.348 billion.
The government also released an amount of Rs19.01 billion for various development projects for the Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs35.662 billion, while Rs11.026 billion have been released for the Atomic Energy Commission.
Water and Power Division received Rs25.68 billion out of its total allocation of Rs36.75 billion under PSDP 2017-18.
The government also released Rs9.237 billion for the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division, for which an amount of Rs48.701 billion have been allocated in the federal PSDP 2017-18 while Rs226 million have been released for the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority out of its total allocations of Rs321.53 million.
An amount of Rs12.8 billion have been released for the Finance Division out of its total allocation of Rs20.9 billion while Rs529 million have been released for Climate Change Division out of its total allocation of Rs815 million for the current year.
Similarly an amount of Rs445.6 million have been released for Petroleum and Natural Resource Division out of its allocation of Rs554.291 billion, Rs1.98 billion for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocation of Rs8.556 billion whereas Rs1.619 billion have been released for SUPARCO out of its allocation of Rs3.5 billion.
Likewise, the government also released Rs7.3 billion for Housing and Works division while Rs80 million for Human Rights Division, and Rs1.011 billion for National Food Security and Research Division.
The government has also released Rs15.963 billion for AJK (block and other projects) out of its allocation of Rs25.844. billion, Rs15.16 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (block and other projects) out of its allocation of Rs18.3 billion whereas Rs16.93 billion have been released for SAFRON/FATA (Block and other projects) out of its total allocation of Rs26.90 billion for the FY2018.
The government also released Rs30 billion for Prime Minister’s Global SDGS Achievement Programme whereas Rs3.15 billion have been released for ERRA out of its total allocations of Rs7.5 billion.
An amount of Rs11.9 billion have been released for Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand Programme out of its total allocation of Rs20 billion, according to the data.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release of funds and accordingly funds have been released as per the given mechanism. The commission releases 20 per cent of funds in the first quarter (July September), 20 per cent in the second quarter (October December), 25 per cent in the third quarter (January March), and 35 per cent in the fourth quarter (April June).
