ISLAMABAD, 15 FEB  (DNA) –  The government has released over Rs323.518 billion for different social sector developmental projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16 against the total allocation of Rs700 billion.

According to latest data released by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, the government has released Rs34.568 billion for infrastructure development projects under National Highway Authority (NHA) as against the total allocation of Rs159.600 billion for FY 2015-16.

Similarly Rs74.087 billion has been released for Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and other power sector projects as against the total allocation of Rs113.886 billion for current fiscal year to overcome the shortage of energy in the country.

A sum of Rs12.611 billion has been released for Water and Power Division (WAPDA) water sector projects for building the mega water reservoirs as compared to total allocations of Rs30.120 billion in federal PSDP 2015-16.

So far, the government has released Rs18.499 billion for different projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission as against the total allocation of Rs30.408 billion for fiscal year 2015-16. Likewise an amount of Rs8.093 billion have been released for Higher Education Commission as compared to the total allocation of Rs20.500 billion for the year 2015-16.

A sum of Rs12.906 billion has been released for uplift and improvement of the services of Railways Division as government had earmarked Rs41 billion for the development of Pakistan Railways.

Under PSDP 2015-16, a sum of Rs12.41 billion has released for different projects of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division as against Rs20.701 billion earmarked for current fiscal year.

The government has released Rs624.912 million for National Food Security and Research Division, Rs420 million for Science and Technical research Division and 200 million for SPARCO respectively.

Under PSDP, 2015-16 an amount of Rs8.380 billion has released for Azad Jammu and Kashmir block and other projects as against the total allocation of Rs13.300 billion for current fiscal year.

The government has released Rs7.813 billion for the development of Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) and SAFRON where as government has allocated Rs19.700 billion for fiscal year 2015-16 for uplift of these areas.

The government has also released Rs20 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 Rs95.094 billion for the developmental projects under different federal ministries and Rs108.656 billion for corporations.

The government has released Rs60.41 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 quarterly ceilings by releasing 20 percent funds in first quarter (July-September), second quarter (October-December) 20 percent, third quarter (January-March) 30 percent and fourth quarter (April-June) 30 percent. DNA