The federal government has authorized the utilization of Rs258.8 billion development funds 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 half (July-December) of the fiscal year 2022-23 under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), reports WealthPK. According to a statement, out of the total authorized/disbursed amount, the total amount spent so far on the development projects during the corresponding period stands at Rs151.42 billion. 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 authorized/disbursed Rs225 million for the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) out of which Rs201 million has been spent so far, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform. The detail shows that Rs66.28 billion out of a total allocated amount of Rs160.2 billion has been disbursed to corporations, while Rs159.6 billion has been disbursed to the federal ministries out of a total allocation of Rs 563.3 billion. For the National Highway Authority (NHA), the government disbursed Rs30.2 billion out of a total allocation of Rs117.2 billion, whereas for NTDC/PEPCO, the government has disbursed Rs36.7 billion. The federal government also disbursed/authorized Rs87 billion out of a total allocation of Rs87.01 billion for various development projects of the Cabinet Division; however, only Rs13.3 billion has been spent on the development projects of the cabinet division so far.

Similarly, the data shows that Rs2.47 billion has been disbursed to the Aviation Division, and Rs 161.5 million to the Board of Investment. The government also authorized the utilization of Rs1.9 billion for the Climate Change Division, out of which only Rs109.7 million was spent during the review period. For the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the government authorized the release of Rs7.8 billion, Rs25.7 billion for provinces and special areas, Rs435 million for the Commerce Division, Rs36 million for Communication Division (other than NHA), and Rs445 million for Defense Division. Likewise, Rs286.5 million was disbursed to Finance Division, Rs355.85 million to Establishment Division, Rs1.4 billion to Federal Education and Professional Training Division, and Rs 4.3 billion to Housing and Works Division.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk