Addressing key issues: Housing scheme, new water project, signal-free corridor get funds

IMC also gets allocations to set up offices of union councils, build town hall

ISLAMABAD: As the capital’s population more than doubled over the past 20 years, the federal government has decided to tackle three of the major issues plaguing the city in the budget for the fiscal year 2018-19: housing, water and transportation.

According to the budget documents released on Friday, the federal government has allocated Rs15.237 billion for the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for fiscal year (FY) 2018-19.

Of this, the government has allocated Rs8.378 billion for physical planning and housing schemes of CADD.



A further Rs4.208 billion has been allocated for the health sector and Rs2.651 billion for the educational institutions which are administered by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration under the CADD ministry.

Development

The federal government has earmarked Rs7.424 billion for three ongoing schemes and Rs0.954 billion for three new schemes in the capital. This is up from just Rs1.919 billion allocated last year.

For ongoing schemes, the government kept its word and allocated Rs7 billion for the third phase of the signal-free Islamabad Expressway being built in the capital. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs10.75 billion and the project is still awaiting approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

The planning commission has already approved to release a billion rupees for the project in the current fiscal year.



Moreover, the planning commission has also set aside Rs0.2 billion for the construction of additional family suites for members of the parliament, including 500 servant quarters in Sector G-5/2. The project was approved by ECNEC in 2010 with an estimated cost of Rs2.908 billion. The government expects to spend Rs1.265 billion on the project by June 30, 2018.

The government has also earmarked Rs0.023 billion for making security arrangements at the Parliament House in Sector G-5. The project was approved by Central Development Working Party(CDWP) in November 2008, at an estimated cost of Rs0.098 billion, and, till the end of the current fiscal year, it expects to spend around Rs0.0744 billion on the project.

As much as Rs0.4 billion has been allocated for the establishment of Centre for Hematology Disorder at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

A further Rs0.845 billion has been allocated for the renovation and rehabilitation of physical infrastructure at 200 educational institutions in the capital under Prime Minister Education Reforms Programme.



New schemes

The government plans to launch three new schemes in the capital this fiscal year.

The Planning Ministry has earmarked Rs0.5 billion for bringing water from River Indus at Tarbela Dam to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The project is estimated to cost a total Rs75.93 billion, of which Rs7.863 billion will be arranged from foreign assistance.

The government has set aside Rs0.296 billion for replacing the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control system to regulate the operation of heating and air conditioning system installed at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The government has also allocated Rs0.158 billion to replace ten lifts installed at the Awan-e-Sadr.

Furthermore, the government has also allocated Rs0.2 billion for the establishment of Smart Schools in ICT while, Rs0.1 billion have been allocated for the establishment of the Islamabad Model College for Boys in Sector G-13/1.



IMC gets budget

For the first time in three years, the government has also allocated money for the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC).

To be provided through the Interior Division, Rs0.1 billion has been allocated for upgrading the Margharzar Islamabad Zoo. The project, which is estimated to cost a total Rs0.2 billion has not been approved yet.

A further Rs0.1 billion has been set aside for the construction of offices related infrastructure in each of the 50 union councils of the capital. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs0.145 million, meaning the government only expects the project to be partially completed in the upcoming fiscal year.

To build a Town Hall to house the IMC and other related infrastructure, Rs0.625 billion have been proposed in the PSDP. The project, estimated to cost a total Rs2.5 billion, has yet to be approved.

ICT allocations

The government has also set aside funds meant directly for the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA).

The government has earmarked Rs0.15 billion for strengthening of sewerage maintenance system in ICTA by procuring modern machinery, equipment and revamping old sewer lines. This project is yet to be approved and is estimated to cost of Rs0.6 billion. A further Rs0.15 billion has been earmarked for water supply schemes in the rural areas of ICTA. The project has the estimated cost of Rs0.6 billion and it is yet to be approved.

The government has set aside Rs0.025 billion for the promotion of rain water harvesting techniques in ICTA. The project has an estimated cost of Rs0.05 billion.



Moreover, Rs0.0288 billion has been proposed for sustainable livelihood and food security through adaptation of agriculture technologies in ICT. The as yet ‘un-approved’ project is estimated to cost Rs0.057 billion.

A further Rs0.15 billion has been set aside for upgrading and improving mosques administered by the ICTA’s Auqaf Department.

The disaster management authority in the capital will get Rs0.25 billion to procure machinery and equipment. The project is estimated to cost a billion rupees and has yet to be approved.

For the construction of roads in rural areas of ICT, Islamabad Rs0.4 billion have been proposed while the estimated cost of this project stood at Rs1.4 billion.

The government has also earmarked Rs0.311 billion for the ongoing project of the National Forensic Science Agency and Islamabad Laboratory in the capital. The project is estimated cost a total of Rs1.46 billion and it had been approved by the CDWP in March 2016.

The government has also set aside Rs0.2 billion for the Islamabad General Hospital in Tarlai. This project was approved by the CDWP in December 2015, and is estimated to cost Rs2.499 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2018.