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ISLAMABAD: The government has released Rs 176.25 billion (17.61 percent) including Rs 21.9 billion foreign aid for different development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2017-18 against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 1,001 billion.

According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, the government has released Rs 41.99 billion (13.7 percent of total budgeted amount) for development projects of various federal ministries against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 305.6 billion.

The government has not released funds for development projects of various ministries, divisions and their departments including Establishment Division, Foreign Affairs Division, Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony Division, Textile Industry Division, Special Federal Development Programme, Energy for All, Clean Drinking Water for All, Special Provision for Completion of CPEC Project and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess.

The government has released Rs 56.1 billion for infrastructure projects of National Highway Authority (NHA) against the budgeted allocation of Rs 325.7 billion. The government has released Rs 8.87 billion for development projects of Pakistan Railway Division against total budgeted allocation of Rs 42.9 billion for current fiscal year 2017-18.

The Planning Commission has released Rs 9.38 billion for development projects of Ministry of Water and Power (Power Sector) against the budgeted allocation of Rs 61.8 billion. An amount of Rs 8.28 billion have been released for Water and Power Division (Water Sector) against the budgeted allocation of Rs 36.75 billion for current fiscal year.

The Planning Commission released Rs 511.78 million for different projects of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 15.9 billion for fiscal year 2017-18.

An amount of Rs 6.51 billion has been released for different projects of Higher Education Commission (HEC) against the total budgeted allocations of Rs 35.7 billion.

The government has released Rs 1.887 billion to Capital Administration and Development Division, Rs 163 million to Climate Change Division, Rs 120 million to Commerce Division, Rs 2.6 billion for Communication Division (Other than NHA), Rs 1.58 billion to Interior Division, Rs 114.6 million to Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Rs 347 million to Planning, Development and Reform.

Under PSDP 2017-18, an amount of Rs 1.7 billion was released for different development projects of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Division against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 48.7 billion. The government released Rs 322.76 million for different developmental projects of National Food Security and Research Division against the earmarked Rs 1.6 billion for the development of agriculture sector in the country.

The government has released Rs 14.6 billion for Special Federal Development Programme for Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) against Rs 90 billion budgeted allocation and Rs 3.9 billion for development projects of Prime Minister’s Youth and Hunarmand Programme under current fiscal year 2017-18.

The entire amount of Rs 30 billion has been released for Prime Minister’s Global SDGs Achievement Programme.

The government released Rs 536.49 million to Finance Division, Rs 623.14 million to Aviation Division, Rs 489.2 million to Port and Shipping Division and Rs 304.55 million to Science and Technological Research Division.

The government released Rs 8.145 billion for development projects of Azad Jammu and Kashmir against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 25.84 billion for current fiscal year. The government also released Rs 6.13 billion for development projects of Gilgit-Baltistan against Rs 18.3 billion budgeted allocation, while Rs 5.15 billion have been released for the projects of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) against the total budgeted allocation of Rs 26.9 billion.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan has so far followed the stipulated mechanism for release of funds; 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.