ISLAMABAD: The federal government has released more than Rs204.831 billion for different social sector developmental projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16 as against the total allocation of Rs 700 billion.
According to latest data released by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, government has released Rs 18.691 billion for Higher Education Commission as compared to the total allocation of Rs 31.100 billion for the year 2015-16.
Under development programme, Rs 27.783 billion has been released for infrastructure development projects under National Highway Authority (NHA) as compared to the total allocation of Rs. 159 billion for FY 2015-16.
Meanwhile, a sum of Rs.33.484 billion has released for Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) power sector projects as against the total allocation of Rs 112.288 billion for current fiscal year to overcome the shortage of energy in the country.
So far, the government has released Rs 5.917 billion for different projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission as against the total allocation of Rs 30.408 billion for fiscal year 2015-16. Meanwhile, a sum of Rs 7.810 billion has released for uplift and improvement of the services of Railways Division as government had earmarked Rs 41 billion for the development of Pakistan Railways.
Under PSDP 2015-16, a sum of Rs 6.865 billion has released for different projects of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division as against Rs 20.701 billion earmarked for current fiscal year.
The government has released Rs. 579.212 million for National Food Security and Research Division, Rs 420 million for Science and Technical research Division. Where as a sum of Rs 5.597 billion for Water and Power Division (water sector) projects to strengthen the water storage capacity for irrigating purposes as well as to produce hydro power generation.
Under PSDP, 2015-16 an amount of Rs 2.413 billion has released for Azad Jammu and Kashmir block and other projects as against the total allocation of Rs 13.300 billion for current fiscal year while Rs 4.038 billion has released for the development of Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) and SAFRON where as government has allocated Rs 19.700 billion for fiscal year 2015-16 for uplift of these areas.
The government has also released Rs 20 billion for Pakistan Millennium Development Goals and community development programmes aiming at to achieve proper human development index by improving the standards of life in the country.
According to the details, government has so far released Rs 58.072 billion for the developmental projects under different federal ministries and Rs 61.268 billion for corporations. The government has released Rs 52.600 billion for Temporary Displaced Persons (TDPs) and security enhancement under current year’s development programme for the rehabilitations of TDPs.
The Planning Commission of Pakistan was following a proper mechanism to release funds as per following quarterly ceilings: first quarter (July-September) 20 percent, second quarter (October-December) 20 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 percent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 percent.