Federal government released Rs 638 billion under PSDP

Federal government released Rs 638 billion under PSDP

*ISLAMABAD*: The federal government released Rs638.9 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19, against the total allocation of Rs675 billion.

Under its development programme, the government released an amount of Rs256.7 billion for federal ministries, Rs244.7 billion for corporations and Rs42.4 billion for special areas, according to the data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform on Tuesday.

Out of these allocations, the government released Rs230.8 billion for the National Highway Authority (NHA) out of its total allocation of Rs185.197 billion.

Under the annual development agenda, the government also released Rs13.9 billion for the National Transmission and Despatch Company and Pakistan Electric Power Company for which an amount of Rs33.365 billion was allocated under PSDP 2018-19.

Similarly, an amount of Rs10.14 billion was released for the Communications Division (other than NHA) against the total allocation of Rs13.977 billion.

Railways Division received Rs23.26 billion out of its total allocation of Rs28.06 billion whereas the Aviation Division received Rs1.72 billion out of its total allocation of Rs3.65 billion.

The government released an amount of Rs29.57 billion for various development projects of the Higher Education Commission as against the total allocation of Rs30.961 billion.

Under PSDP 2018-19, the government released Rs26.7 billion for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, whereas the Water Resource Division received Rs76.6 billion out of its total allocation of Rs78.09 billion.

The government also released Rs3.38 billion for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division, for which an amount of Rs12.784 billion was allocated in the federal PSDP 2018-19.

An amount of Rs276 million was released for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority against the total allocation of Rs0.285 billion, while an amount of Rs4.99 billion was released for the Finance Division against its total allocations of Rs12.346 billion.

The Climate Change Division received Rs775 million, against its total allocations of Rs0.802 billion.

Similarly, an amount of Rs338 million released for the Petroleum Division out of its allocations of Rs0.463 billion, Rs4.14 billion for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocations of Rs6.860 billion and Rs16 billion for Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission.

Likewise, the government released Rs25.56 billion for the States and Frontier Region Division, Rs10.8 billion for Interior Division, Rs24.2 million for Human Rights Division and Rs725.7 million for National Food Security and Research Division.

The government also released Rs26.08 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) block and other projects out of its allocations of Rs25.856 billion, and Rs16.3 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (block and other projects) out of its allocations of Rs17.534 billion.

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