ISLAMABAD: In the fourth quarter (April–June) of the current fiscal year 2022–2023, the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives authorized Rs72 billion for various ministries and divisions under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The planning ministry has authorized Rs566.85 billion for various ministries and divisions, an increase of Rs50 billion from the previous year’s total of Rs516.31 billion. In the fourth quarter of the current year, Rs42,928.91 million was authorized, keeping the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the top. The amount authorized to be distributed to ministries and divisions is as follows:
Aviation Division — Rs3,314 million, Cabinet Division — Rs90,035.28 million, Climate Division — Rs4,073 million; Board of Investment — Rs163.63 million; Commerce Division — 5,550.61 million; Communication — Rs108 million; Defence Division — Rs2,226.94 million; Defence Production — Rs2,200 million; Establishment Division — Rs433.07 million; Federal Ministry of Education & Professional Training — Rs5,469.91 million; Housing & Works — Rs19,528.42 million; Information and Technology — Rs5,731.7 million; Railways — Rs25,818.8 million; National Food & Security — Rs12,329.13 million; National Health Services, Regulation — Rs11,774.42 million.
Moreover, the ministry has authorised Rs91,845.22 million to the provinces. Furthermore, the National Highways Authority (NHA) was authorised Rs76,575.34 million, National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC)/Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Rs20,209.83 million and Railways Division Rs25,818.80 million.
Since taking charge, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has held his stance that the federal government should not take projects related to the provinces.
“The federal government should consider only high priority projects of the provinces based on 50-50 sharing,” the minister said during the last meeting in which he reviewed the PSDP.
It should be noted that despite financial constraints, the government managed to allocate Rs700 billion for PSDP. During the year 2022, in the same quarter, the PTI government failed to release a single penny, which happened for the first time in the country’s history.
