Fozia Azam

The federal government has spent Rs203 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2022-23 during the first seven months (July-January) of the current fiscal year, reports WealthPK. The government had, however, authorised the utilisation of development funds amounting to Rs371 billion out of a total allocation of Rs727 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects of the federal ministries and divisions in the first seven months of the fiscal year under PSDP.

According to the disbursement mechanism of the Planning Division, the development funds allocated in the federal budget are released at the rate of 20% in the first quarter (July-September) followed by 30% each in the second and third quarters, and the remaining 20% in the last quarter (April-June) of a fiscal year.

The government also authorised/disbursed Rs225 million for the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra), out of which Rs207 million have been spent so far, according to the latest data released by the ministry of planning, development and reforms.

The details show that Rs95.1 billion out of a total allocated amount of Rs160.2 billion have been disbursed to corporations, while Rs276.6 billion have been disbursed to the federal ministries out of a total allocation of Rs563.3 billion.For National Highway Authority (NHA), the government has disbursed Rs46.5 billion out of a total allocation of Rs117.2 billion, whereas for NTDC/PEPCO, the government has disbursed Rs48.6 billion.

The federal government has also disbursed/authorised Rs87 billion out of a total allocation of Rs87.01 billion for various development projects of the cabinet division. However, only Rs30.7 billion have been spent on the development projects of the cabinet division so far.

Similarly, the data shows that Rs2.47 billion have been disbursed to the Aviation Division, and Rs282 million to the Board of Investment. The government also authorised the utilisation of Rs3.3 billion for the Climate Change Division, out of which only Rs854 million have been spent during the period under review.

The government has authorised the release of Rs18.4 billion for Higher Education Commission (HEC), Rs41.8 billion for provinces and special areas, Rs550.6 million for the Commerce Division, Rs63 million for the Communication Division (other than NHA), and Rs1.35 billion for the Defence Division. Likewise, the government also disbursed Rs511 million to the Finance Division, Rs710 million to the Establishment Division, Rs2.4 billion to the Federal Education and Professional Training Division, and Rs14.2 billion to the Housing and Works Division.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk