NAVEED BUTT
ISLAMABAD: A total of 361 development projects valued at Rs 249.6 billion of various ministries have been completed and their PC-IV has been received by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, it is learnt.
A total of 1,232 development projects were financed during 2013-14 while Rs 543 billion were allocated to these projects, including power sector’s self-financed amount of Rs 118 billion.
The problems faced by the executing agencies with regard to implementation of the projects were as follows: 27 percent (24 projects) suffered due to lack of management capacity in 2013-14, 23 percent (94 projects) in 2012-13, and 26 percent in 108 projects in 2011-12; (ii) delay in civil works accounted for delays in 15 percent (13 projects) in 2013-14, 17 percent (68 projects) in 2012-13 and 19 percent (79 projects) in 2011-12. The executing agencies also faced problems of lack of coordination between the federal and provincial governments, consultant related issues and delay in procurements in several projects during the last six years (2008-09 - 2013-14); 361 project were completed with 59 of Ministry of Science and Technology with completion cost Rs 2.33 billion, 17 projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission with completion cost of Rs 63.479 billion, 15 projects of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with completion cost Rs 1.16 billion, 61 projects of Higher Education Commission with completion cost Rs 8.56 billion, 31 projects of Ministry of Food and Agriculture with completion cost Rs 1.54 billion, 23 projects of Ministry of Water and Power with completion cost Rs 89.79 billion, 11 projects of Cabinet Division with completion cost Rs 3.04 billion, 14 projects of Defence Division with completion cost Rs 648.5 million, 32 projects of Ministry of Interior with completion cost Rs 683.8 million etc.
During financial year 2013-14, Rs 400 billion including foreign aid of Rs 85 billion up to May, 2014 were released against the allocation of Rs 425 billion. Total budget of foreign aid during 2013-14 was Rs 109 billion, however the data for foreign aid disbursed up to June, 2014 has not yet been received by the Planning Commission from the Economic Affairs Division.
According to documents available with Business Recorder, Pakistan received an amount of $ 215.17 million including grant element of $ 150.38 million and loan component of $ 127.12 million during July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014 from external sources for education sector.
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) provided total assistance of $ 8.43 million to Balochistan including $ 5.09 million loan and $ 3.34 million grant. The IDA and UK extended $ 62.33 million as grant to Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK) while IDA, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and UK extended $ 203.54 million including $ 118.83 million loan and $ 84.71 million grant to Punjab. The IDA extended $ 3.2 million loan to Sindh. The funds were disbursed by donors directly to the assignment accounts of programs/projects through State Bank of Pakistan.
A total of Rs 406.8 billion foreign funds have been allocated in 2014-15 for all provinces and AJK. In addition, Canadian Debt Swap Projects in Education Sector titled “Capacity Building of Teachers Training Institutions and Training of Elementary Schools Teacher” was also extended. The funds are distributed through an arrangement where federating units directly liaise with donor agencies while the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) is the facilitator and coordinator.
