ISLAMABAD: The government has released over Rs37.6 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19 for various ongoing as well as new programmes, against the total allocations of Rs675 billion.
The released funds included Rs24.8 billion for federal ministries and Rs11.8 billion for special areas, the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform revealed on Sunday.
Out of these allocations, Rs2.78 billion have been released for the Communication Division (other than National Highway Authority) for which the government has earmarked Rs13.9 billion under PSDP 2018-19.
The Railways Division received Rs4.17 billion out of its total allocation of Rs28.06 billion whereas the Aviation Division received Rs205.45 million out of its total allocation of Rs3.6 billion.
The government released an amount of Rs4.6 billion for the development projects of Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs30.9 billion, while Rs4.7 billion have been released for the Atomic Energy Commission.
Water Resource Division received Rs455 million out of its total allocation of Rs77.99 billion under the PSDP 2018-19.
The government also released Rs593 million for National Health Services’ Regulations and Coordination Division, for which an amount of Rs10.9 billion has been allocated in the federal PSDP 2018-19, while Rs60 million have been released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority out of its total allocations of Rs285 million.
An amount of Rs60 million has been released for the Finance Division out of its total allocations of Rs12.34 billion, while Rs 153 million have been released for the Climate Change Division out of its total allocations of Rs802 million for the current year.
Similarly, an amount of Rs9.3 million has been released for the Petroleum Division out of the total allocations of Rs463 million, Rs865 million for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocations of Rs 7.05 billion, whereas Rs 246.7 million have been released for SUPARCO out of its allocations of Rs2.9 billion.
Likewise, the government released Rs20 million for the Human Rights Division, and Rs226 million for the National Food Security and Research Division.
The government also released Rs4.74 billion for Azad Jammu Kashmir out of its allocations of Rs25.8 billion, and Rs7.1 billion for Gilgit Baltistan out of its allocations of Rs17.5 billion.
The government released Rs60 million for National Transmission & Despatch Company/Pakistan Electric Power Company (NTDC/PEPCO) out of its total allocation of Rs33.3 billion, whereas Rs110 million have been released for Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) out of its total allocations of Rs6.5 billion.
An amount of Rs799 million has been released for Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand Programme, Special Federal Development Programme for Temporarily Displaced Persons and Security Enhancement, and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess for which a total allocation of Rs7.8 billion was made for the year 2018-19.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release of funds and accordingly, the funds were released as per given mechanism. The commission releases 20 per cent of the funds in the first quarter (July-September), 20 per cent in second quarter (October-December), 25 per cent in the third quarter (January-March) and 35 per cent in the fourth quarter (April-June).
