The government of Pakistan allowed the utilisation of funds amounting to Rs371.88 billion out of a total allocation of Rs727 billion for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects during the first seven months of the ongoing fiscal under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), WealthKPK reports.

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 of a fiscal, followed by 30% each in the second and third quarters. The remaining 20% is released in the last quarter of a financial year.

The government has also disbursed Rs225 million for the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) out of which Rs207 million has been spent so far, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

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

The federal government has also disbursed Rs87 billion out of a total allocation of Rs87.01 billion to various development projects of the Cabinet Division. However, only Rs30.7 billion has been spent so far. Similarly, Rs2.47 billion has been given 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 has been spent so far.

For Higher Education Commission (HEC), the government has authorised the release of Rs18.4 billion and Rs41.8 billion for provinces and special areas, Rs550.6 million for the Commerce Division, Rs63 million for the Communication Division and Rs1.35 billion for the Defence Division.

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 Rs4.2 billion to the Housing and Works Division, according to the data, available with WealthPK.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk