—Rs10.2 billion released for federal ministries, Rs4.6 billion for special areas
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has so far released Rs15.4 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-20, against the total allocation of Rs701 billion.
Under its development programme, the government has released an amount of Rs10.2 billion for federal ministries and Rs4.6 billion for special areas, according to the data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform. Out of these allocations, the government has released Rs4.4 billion for Higher Education Commission (HEC) out of its total allocation of Rs29 billion.
Under annual development agenda, the government also released Rs4.27 billion for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission for which an amount of Rs24.4 billion was allocated under PSDP 2018-19.
Similarly, Rs750 million were released for Communication Division (other than NHA) as the government earmarked Rs9.8 billion in its PSDP 2019-20.
SUPARCO received Rs365.8 million out of its total allocation of Rs6.03 billion, whereas Revenue Division received Rs198.15 million out of the total allocation of Rs1.9 billion. The government also released Rs 4.6 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) block and other projects out of its allocations of Rs27.26 billion.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan releases 20 per cent of the development funds in the first quarter (July-September), 20 per cent in the second quarter (October-December), 30 per cent in the third quarter (January-March) and another 30 per cent in the fourth quarter (April-June).
Meanwhile, the Planning Commission has clarified a news item, published in certain sections of the media regarding authorisation of PSDP funds during 2019-20, that the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform has processed all demands received for authorisation till August 16, 2019 against PSDP allocation.
In a statement, the Planning Commission said, “As per release strategy issued by the finance division on July 15, 2019, 20 per cent of the PSDP allocation has to be authorised for PSDP funded projects.” Accordingly, the planning ministry has to authorise Rs89 billion during the first quarter, which is 20 per cent of what is earmarked in current PSDP.
Out of this, Rs56 billion was demanded from all federal entities. The ministry has authorised Rs22.6 billion to different ministries/division which meet SOP/codal formalities for the release of authorisation. The remaining was not authorised mainly due to non-fulfillment of codal formalities.
The amount would be released as soon as the ministries fulfill the formalities.
