ISLAMABAD: The government has released over Rs 318.49 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2017-18 for various ongoing and new schemes against the total allocations of Rs 1001 billion.
The released funds include Rs 78.36 billion for federal ministries and Rs 26.67 billion for special areas, according to data released by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.
Out of these allocations, the government has released Rs 116.39 billion for National Highway Authority for which Rs 325.7 billion has been allocated for the year 2017-18, whereas for WAPDA (Power) an amount of Rs 19.28 billion has been released out of total allocation of Rs 63.28 billion.
Similarly, Rs 5.276 billion have been released for Communication Division (other than National Highway Authority) for which the government has earmarked Rs 13.66 billion under PSDP 2017-18.
Railways Division received Rs 9.384 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 42.9 billion whereas Aviation Division received Rs 964.8 million out of its total allocation of Rs 4.348 billion.
The government also released an amount of Rs 11.628 billion for various development projects of Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs 35.662 billion, while Rs 3.083 billion have been released for Atomic Energy Commission.
Water and Power Division (water sector) received Rs 10.4 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 36.75 billion under PSDP 2017-18. The government also released Rs 8.06 billion for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division, for which an amount of Rs 48.701 billion have been allocated in the federal PSDP 2017-18 while Rs 114.612 million have been released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority out of its total allocations of Rs 409.553 million.
An amount of Rs 6.942 billion have been released for Finance Division out of its total allocations of Rs 20.143 billion while 326 million have been released for Climate Change Division out of its total allocations of Rs 815 million for the current year.
Similarly an amount of Rs 3.72 billion have been released for Petroleum and Natural Resource Division out of its allocations of Rs 5.278 billion, Rs 1.732 billion for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocations of Rs 10.869 billion whereas Rs 1 billion have been released for SUPARCO out of its allocations of Rs 3.5 billion.
Likewise, the government also released Rs 2.35 billion for Housing and Works division while Rs 61.25 million for Human Rights Division, and Rs 385 million for National Food Security and Research Division.
The government has also released Rs 8.615 billion for AJK (block and other projects) out of its allocations of Rs 25.844. billion, Rs 7.5 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (block and other projects) out of its allocations of Rs 18.3 billion whereas Rs 10.5 billion have been released for SAFRON/FATA (Block and other projects) out of its total allocations of Rs 26.90 billion for the FY2018.
The government also released Rs 30 billion for Prime Minister’s Global SDGS Achievement Programme whereas Rs 1.8 billion has been released for ERRA out of its total allocations of Rs 7.5 billion.
An amount of Rs 9.199 billion have been released for Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand Programme out of its total allocations of Rs 20 billion, according to the data.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release of funds and accordingly funds are released as per 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 and final quarter (April-June).
