ISLAMABAD:
The government has allocated Rs16.5 billion for various ongoing development projects along with a few new schemes by different federal ministries and their affiliated departments in the Public Sector Development Programme for 2012-13.
A bulk of the allocated funds, almost 31 per cent, would be spent by the water and power division for building two new dams and the upgradation of power distribution facilities in the twin cities. For these projects the government has allocated Rs5.1 billion, says the budget document released on Friday.
The Interior Division had the second highest allocation with Rs3.7 billion (22.3%). However, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has been allocated Rs782.5 million (4.75%) for its development projects.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been given Rs2.4 billion for development projects which mostly comprise establishment and upgradation of facilities at educational institutions. No funds have been allocated for new projects in the twin cities.
An allocation of Rs75.5 million has been proposed for the National Heritage and Integration Division for initiating three new schemes in Islamabad, three new schemes including the upgradation of Lok Virsa Media Studios, at the cost of Rs59 million. For the other two projects an allocation of Rs10 million for the preparation of database of paintings and artwork project has been earmarked. Another Rs6.5 million have been allocated for setting up a laboratory and restoration of damaged paintings and artwork which will have a total cost of Rs15 million.
After the devolution of the health and education ministries under the 18th amendment, both sectors will not have any new schemes. Ongoing projects in the two sectors are now under the control of CADD and the Cabinet division respectively.
Of the five ongoing development projects in Islamabad’s education sector, CADD will supervise four.
New Schemes
Two new dams to be built in Rawalpinidi in the next fiscal year at a cost of Rs100 million. The government has allocated Rs50 million each for the construction of Mujahid Dam and Mohra Shera Dam Rawalpindi.
The total cost of Mujahid Dam is Rs512.2 million and Shera Dam is Rs552.8 million.
In the power sector, two new schemes would be initiated for power distribution at a cost of over Rs100 million. For the 220kv Quaid-i-Azam University substation, Rs605 million have been set aside, and the 220kv Taxila Station would be given Rs495 million.
Safe City Project
Out of the Rs3.7 billion allocated for development projects carried out by the Interior Division, Rs2.8 billion has been allocated for the Safe City Project. The project has a total cost of Rs11.3 billion and is completely foreign funded. Rs6.2 billion has already spent on the project. A major chunk of the amount went towards the purchase of explosive scanners, two of which were stationed in Islamabad but have not been of much use since then.
PM’s Development Package
The second major allocation under the Interior Division was made to the Islamabad Development Package on the prime minister’s directives. The government spared Rs222.5 million for the package for the next fiscal year, while Rs2.2 billion have already been spent on the project up to June.
The development package announced by the PM totalled Rs43 billion.
The National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) is costing Rs168.7 million for the next fiscal year, with Rs300 million already spent up till June 2012.
Rs23 million have been allocated for construction of the Judicial and Administration Complex which has an estimated cost of Rs419.3 million.
For construction of a Police Station at Tarnol at an estimated cost of 63.3 million rupees, Rs16.2 million has been allocated.
PM’s Special Initiative for Management of Dengue
From the Rs782.5 million allocated for CADD, the government has allocated Rs35.5 million for the PM’s Special Initiative for Management of Dengue Fever and Pollen Allergy in Islamabad.
The project has a total cost of Rs39.5 million but nothing was spent on it till June 2012. For the Safe Blood Transfusion Services Project, only six million rupees were allocated although the project has a total cost of Rs602 million, and total expenditure till June 2012 was only Rs89 million. It has a foreign component of Rs400 million.
Under CADD, the government has allocated Rs20.8 million for the construction of a Nursing School at Polyclinic. While the health sector as a whole received less attention from budget makers, the education sector did not witness any new schemes or large allocations either.
Education
For the provision of 119 computer laboratories in educational institutes around the city, only Rs30 million was allocated, though the total cost was estimated at Rs199.2 million.
Likewise, the HEC would also not be able to initiate any major scholarship projects in the coming year as no allocations were made to that end. Most funds for the HEC are for ongoing projects.
The government also allocated Rs405 million for the ongoing Water Distribution network for Rawalpindi Cantonment Board and Chaklala Cantonment Board project based on Khanpur Dam water source Phase III. The total estimated cost of the project was Rs699.5, with Rs293 million spent till June 2012.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2012.
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