The government has so far released Rs 18,107.546 million for various ongoing and new projects of Finance division under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the current fiscal year 2017-18.

The government in its Federal PSDP had earmarked Rs 27064.708 million for the Finance division projects, with foreign exchange component of Rs 715.402 million, officials sources said on Tuesday.

According to details, the government released Rs 6998 million for Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme which is being developed by provincial and the federal government on cost sharing basis. The government had earmarked Rs 9555 million for the project under the PSDP of the current fiscal year, the data revealed.

An amount of Rs 1500 million have been released for Greater Karachi Sewerage Plant (S-III) Karachi which is being developed on cost sharing basis. The government had earmarked Rs 1500 million for the project in PSDP 2017-18.

The government also released Rs 350 million for Gwadar Development Authority while an amount of Rs 300.188 million has been released for two Power Plants from Syngas (IGCC 2009) in Tharparker, with each plant having capacity of producing 50 megawatt electricity.

The total cost of this project had been estimated at Rs 8898.7 million, out of which Rs 300.188 were earmarked in the fiscal year 2017-18, which has already been released.

An amount of Rs 300 million have been released for development works in Phoolnagar and adjacent areas while an amount of Rs 250 million have been provided for flyover on Hala road bypass Patoki overhead bridge connecting rural areas with Pattoki city.

The government also released Rs 137.335 million for bridge over Balloki Sulemanki Link at village Balloki to connect that entire areas with motorway and district Nankana while and amount of Rs150 have been released for construction of dual carriageway in Phoolnagar district Kasur.

An amount of Rs150 million has been released for Energization and Functionality of Construction and Extension of Audit House, Islamabad.

The government also released Rs 79.396 million for another important project related to automation of Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS), Phase-II. The total cost of the project has been estimated at Rs879.8 million, out of which Rs 202.106 were earmarked to be released during the current fiscal year, according to APP.

It is pertinent to mention here that in total 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 allocations of Rs. 1,001 billion.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan follows the stipulated mechanism for release of funds: first quarter (July-September) 20 per cent, second quarter (October-December) 20 per cent, third quarter (January-March) 30 per cent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 per cent.