April 8, 2019: The federal government has released Rs 449.268 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects under its Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2018-19 as against the total allocation of Rs 675 billion.

Under its development program, so far the government had released an amount of Rs 177.842 billion for federal ministries, whereas Rs 219.757 billion for corporations and Rs 31.541 billion for special areas, according to latest data released by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.

Out of these allocations, the government released Rs 208.835 billion for National Highway Authority (NHA) out of its total allocation of Rs 185.197 billion.

Under annual development agenda, the government had also released Rs 10.921 billion have been released for NTDC and PEPCO for which an amount of Rs 33.365 billion was allocated under PSDP 2018-19.

Similarly, Rs 6.632 billion have been released for Communication Division (other than NHA) as the government had earmarked Rs 13.977 billion in its PSDP 2018-19.

Railways Division received Rs16.999 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 28.06 billion whereas Aviation Division received Rs1039.540 million out of total allocation of Rs 3.65 billion.

The government had also released an amount of Rs 18.510 billion for various development projects of Higher Education Commission as against the total allocation of Rs 30.961 billion for current fiscal year.

Under PSDP 2018-19, the government had released Rs 18.462 billion for the various projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, whereas the Water Resource division received Rs 48.100 billion out of total allocation of Rs 78.09 billion.

The government had also released Rs 2.764 billion for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division, for which an amount of Rs 12.784 billion have been allocated in the federal PSDP 2018-19.

While Rs 0.276 billion had released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority as the government had allocations an amount of Rs 0.285 billion for the different projects of the regulatory authority.

An amount of Rs 3.029 billion had released for Finance Division out of its total allocations of Rs 12.346 billion and Rs 0.700 billion have been released for Climate Change Division out of its total allocations of Rs 0.802 billion for the current fiscal year.

Similarly, an amount of Rs 0.324 billion has been released for Petroleum Division out of its allocations of Rs 0.463 billion, Rs 4.067 billion for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocations of Rs 6.932 billion whereas Rs 15.59 billion have been released for SUPARCO.

Likewise, the government also released Rs 18.369 billion for States and Frontier Region Division, Rs 7.908 billion for Interior Division, Rs 20.300 million for Human Rights Division, and Rs 491.01 million for National Food Security and Research Division.

The government also released Rs 18.061 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) block and other projects out of its allocations of Rs 25.8 billion, and Rs13.541 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (block and other projects) out of its allocations of Rs 17.5 billion.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan follows the specific mechanism for release of funds. During first quarter (July-September) it releases 20 percent of development funds, in second quarter (October-December) 20 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 per cent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 percent.

 (APP)

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