Rs18.5b for development works in G-B, AJK

Federal govt allocates budget for 14 ongoing projects.

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has allocated Rs7.689 billion for 14 ongoing development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2011-12, but it did not identify any new development projects.

The G-B government sought over Rs8 billion for the development sector. No new project for reconstruction and repair of infrastructure that was damaged due to last year’s heavy rains and floods has been included in the budget.

According to the PSDP report, Rs6.08 billion have been earmarked for Gilgit-Baltistan Secretariat Block, Rs20.440 million for the upgradation of District Hospital Chilas from 100 beds to 200 beds, Rs23 million for the G-B Health Development Project phase-II, Rs60 million for the Environmental Health Water Supply and Sanitation Extension Program and Rs10 million for Strengthening of Disaster Risk Management System in GB (phase-II).

Additionally, Rs400 million have been allocated for a 26 MW hydropower project at Shagarthang Skardu, Rs150 million for a 4 MW hydropower project at Thak Das Chilas, Rs10 million for Strengthening of Planning and Monitoring Cell, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and G-B, Islamabad.

Another Rs24.693 million have been allocated for the establishment of a Cadet College, Rs32.924 million for the establishment of a Polytechnic Institute for Boys, Rs3 million for Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation’s Tourism Facilitation Centre at Gilgit, Rs8.231 million for the construction of a Youth Development Centre at Gilgit, Rs150 million for the construction of the 16 MW Naltar-III Hydel Power Project and Rs300 million for the construction of Naltar-V, a 14 MW Hydel Power Project.

Allocation for Kashmir

The federal government allocated Rs10.794 billion funds for nine ongoing and two new development schemes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Out of them Rs10.289 billion have been earmarked for nine ongoing development projects and Rs405 million have been allocated  for two new projects, Rs400 million for the 45.4MW Jargan Hydro Power Project (AJK) and Rs5 million for the widening and improvement of the 32 km Shurgan Noori Nar Jalkhad Road in Neelum District.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2011.