ISLAMABAD – Senate Standing Committee on Planning Development and Reformshere on Tuesday was informed that the developmental expenditures underPublic Sector Development Program (PSDP) has been revised from Rs. 800billion to Rs 675 billion.
The committee met here under the Chairmanship of Senator Agha Shahzaib KhanDurrani and considered recommendations of members on the FinanceSupplementary Amendment Bill 2018 relating to Public Sector DevelopmentProgram 2018-19.
Briefing the committee, Advisor to Planning Commission Asif Shaikh saidthat a total of Rs. 125 billion was slashed from the total PSDP, whichwould be spent on the priority projects of the social sector development.He said that unapproved projects for financing under PSDP had been droppedand maximum efforts were made to continue all such projects where 10percent was spent from the public money.
He said that the projects where 10 percent money was spent they werediffered not dropped and would be considered in next PSDP for funding onpriority basis.It was also informed that about unapproved 400 developmental projectscosting Rs 1.9 trillion dropped, adding that an amount of Rs 55 trillionwere allocated under current PSDP.
The committee was informed that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) wason the top priority and all the developmental projects would be financedand completed.In PSDP, 2018-19 an amount of Rs 3-4 billion had been allocated fordifferent projects under CPEC, besides making allocation for the differentprojects in Gwadar.
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He further informed that committee that Rs 34.5 billion would be spent onthe development of Federally Administered Tribal Areas.Asif Shaikh said that government had also formed 10 year plan for thedevelopment of FATA and an amount of Rs 1 trillion would be spent on theuplift of these areas.
The Chairman of the Committee asked for ensuring the adequate funding forhealth and education sector, besides the developmental projects of Gawdar.
He also asked for taking measures for the development of FATA to bring theareas as per with other areas of the country.The Senators Hidayat Ullah, Momin Khan Afridi along with other seniorofficials of Planning Commission, Federal Board of Revenue and otherdepartments attended the meeting.
