PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The financial year 2016-17 will see Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocations amounting to Rs9.7 billion for different health, education, and infrastructure development schemes in Islamabad.
Of the Rs9.7 billion, Rs6.2 billion have been allocated for the under-construction New Islamabad International Airport, while Rs2.6 billion have been marked for the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), and Rs891.4 million for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration.
Islamabad Airport
Around Rs6.2 billion have been allocated for five different schemes related to the under-construction New Islamabad International Airport near Fateh Jhang.
A sum of Rs3 billion has been marked for the construction of road networks, including the main link, the Thalian link and periphery road, and Rs2.3 billion for the construction of approach road networks including the acquisition of land and shifting of utilities from the area.
To overcome water scarcity in the new airport area, Rs900.8 million has been set aside for the construction of two rainwater harvesting dams — Ramma Dam and Kasana Dam — located adjacent to the airport.
Meanwhile, Rs10 million will be spent to establish a Met Office at the airport.
CADD
The federal government has allocated Rs2.6 billion under PSDP for 14 new and 12 ongoing health, education, and infrastructure development-related schemes that the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) will execute during FY 2016-17.
Of this, Rs1.1 billion has been allocated for construction and upgradation of new and existing public sector educational facilities in Islamabad, Rs717.3 for health infrastructure improvement schemes, and Rs751.1 million for four Capital Development Authority (CDA) projects.
The allocation for FY 2016-17 is almost Rs 1.5 billion higher than FY 2015-16, when the allocation was Rs1.04 billion.
Education
Some 12 schemes — six new and six ongoing — will be carried out against Rs1.1 billion.
The new schemes include Rs200 million each for the establishment of SMART Schools and upgradation of High Schools in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Rs33.9 million for the establishment of a project management unit for the Prime Minister’s Educational Reforms in ICT, Rs20 million for the construction of a new Islamabad Model School for Boys Mangial building, Rs10 million for the construction of girls schools in Khana Dak, and Rs20 million for the National Education Centre for Special Children.
Another Rs609.9 million has been allocated for six ongoing schemes, including uplifting and improvement of existing educational institutes.
Health
Rs717.3 million will be spent on seven new and three ongoing health facility improvement schemes.
Under the seven new schemes, Rs200 million has been allocated for the establishment of a Centre for Neurosciences at PIMS, Rs100 million each for extension of Polyclinic and upgradation of Diagnostic Services at PIMS, and Rs59.8 million each for upgradation of the PIMSS Children Hospital Radiology Department and new x-ray machines.
For three ongoing schemes, the allocation stands at Rs167.8 million.
CDA
The capital’s civic agency has recently been moved under the administrative control of CADD.
The civic agency has been allocated Rs751.1 million for three ongoing and one new scheme.
The new scheme allocation is Rs100 million for a Non-Motorized Transport Infrastructure Support Fund. The lion’s share of the allocation is on parliamentarians themselves, with Rs500 million set aside for the construction of new housing facilities for members of parliament.
ICT Administration
Some Rs891.4 million has been allocated for 13 ongoing and four new development schemes in the rural areas of Islamabad and will be executed by the ICT Administration.
The ICT Administration manages the affairs of rural parts of the capital. The schemes are related to health, education, and infrastructure development.
A sizable allocation of Rs400 million has been made for the establishment of model police stations in ICT under the Police Reforms Programme, while, Rs366.4 million has been allocated for 13 ongoing schemes, and Rs 525 million for four new schemes.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2016.
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