ISLAMABAD: The government has released over Rs 169.21 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2017-18 for various ongoing and new schemes against their total allocations of Rs 1001 billion.
According to latest data of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, the released funds included Rs 38.99 billion for federal ministries and Rs 15.316 billion for special areas.
Out of these allocations, Rs 2.6 billion was released for Communication Division (other than National Highway Authority), for which the government has earmarked Rs 13.66 billion under the PSDP 2017-18.
Furthermore, the Railways Division received Rs 8.631 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 42.9 billion, whereas Aviation Division received Rs 623.14 million out of its total allocation of Rs 4.348 billion.
The government also released an amount of Rs 6.5 billion for various development projects of Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs 35.662 billion, while the Water and Power Division (water sector) received Rs 7.38 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 36.75 billion under the PSDP.
The government also released Rs 1.718 billion for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division, for which an amount of Rs 48.701 billion was allocated in the federal PSDP, while Rs 46 million was released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority out of its total allocation of Rs 409.553 million.
Moreover, an amount of Rs 386 million was released for Finance Division out of its total allocation of Rs 20.143 billion, while Rs 163 million was released for Climate Change Division out of its total allocation of Rs 815 million for the current year.
Similarly, an amount of Rs 1.914 billion was released for Petroleum and Natural Resource Division out of its allocations of Rs 3.692 billion, Rs 322.053 million for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocation of Rs 10.869 billion, whereas Rs 500 million was released for Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission out of its total allocation of Rs 3.5 billion.
Likewise, the government also released Rs 61 million for Human Rights Division, and Rs 322 million for National Food Security and Research Division.
In addition, the government released Rs 4.105 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir out of total allocation of Rs 25.344 billion, Rs 6.126 billion for Gilgit-Baltistan out of its allocations of Rs 18.3 billion, while Rs 5.149 billion was released for States and Frontier Regions Division and Federally Administered Tribal Areas out of its total allocation of Rs 26.90 billion.
The government also released Rs 30 billion for the Prime Minister’s Global Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme, whereas Rs 900 million was released for Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Centre out of total allocation of Rs 7.5 billion.
An amount of Rs 3.911 billion was also released for the Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand Programme out of its total allocation of Rs 20 billion.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Planning Commission of Pakistan had been following a set mechanism for the release of funds, under which the commission released 20% of funds in the first quarter (July-September) of a fiscal year, 20% in the second quarter (October-December), 25% in the third quarter (January-March), and 35% in the fourth quarter (April-June).