In and around the capital: Interior Division gets lesser amount this year

Allocation decreases by almost Rs600m in comparison to last year for various projects related to security.

ISLAMABAD:

Security related expenditure in and around the capital has been decreased by almost Rs600 million for the upcoming fiscal year. The government has allocated Rs5,000 million under Public Service Development Programme (PSDP) for Interior Division against Rs5,585 million allocated last year.

According to a budgetary document released on Friday, an amount of Rs4,536 million was allocated for 104 ongoing projects and Rs1,264 million was set aside for 30 new projects in the PSDP 2011-12. However in the last year’s budget, an amount of Rs4,372 million was allocated for 120 ongoing projects last year and Rs1,212 million for 50 new projects in the PSDP 2010-11.

Among the new schemes, Rs186 million, including Rs50 million from foreign loans, have been allocated for the controversial Islamabad Safe City Project, which will be carried out by a Chinese company. The budgetary document stated that the entire project with an estimated cost of Rs13,000 million was to be foreign funded.

The new schemes also include Procurement/Installation of Non-Intrusive Vehicle X-Ray System (NVIS) Phase II. The project has been allocated Rs16 million, including Rs0.5 million from foreign loans. The project had an estimated cost of Rs5,100 million while the cost additional to the allocated amount will be met with foreign loans of Rs3,400 million.

For the National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C), Islamabad (Phase II), Rs300 million have been allocated in the PSDP 2011-12.

For provision of security infrastructure in Malakand, Swat and other conflict-struck areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), a mere Rs15 million were allocated in PSDP 2011-12. This amount has been set aside for a Rs2,970 million project, which was suppose to be completely funded by the federal government.

For the new schemes, Rs25 million were allocated for the uplifting/renovation of IG Office F-7/1, special branch CID office and police barracks 8 to 11 at H-11 Islamabad. Another, Rs22 million were allocated for the Construction of Police Parade Ground in Police Lines Headquarter Sector H-11, Islamabad.

Moreover the new schemes given allocations in PSDP 2011-12 also include Rs17 million for water supply scheme in village of Sohan and adjoining dhoks, Rs36 million for construction of a boys/scouts hostel at Mirali in K-P, Rs30 million for purchase of three crawler mounted water well drilling rig for Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Rs40 million for construction of allied facilities at National Public Safety Commission (NPSC) building including the additional block at NPB, Islamabad and Rs50 million for construction of an additional-wing accommodation for Shawal Rifles
at Razmak.

Among the ongoing projects, an amount of Rs300 million was allocated for establishment of National Forensic Science Agency and Islamabad Laboratory and another Rs222 million for Integrated Border Management System (IBMS).

Pakistan Automated Fingerprint Identification System Phase-II (PAFIS) received an allocation of Rs300 million in the budget for the next fiscal year. For the Phase II of the Machine Readable Passport and Machine Readable Visa Project Rs900 million were allocated, while Rs60 million were allocated for Phase I of the project.

In the budget of next year, Rs30 million were allocated for the construction of Judicial and Administration Complex ICT, Islamabad.

Rs45 million were allocated for construction of Admin Block Quarter Guard 03 Barracks, Magazine and Horse Stable in Diplomatic Enclave Islamabad; Rs22 million for construction of boundary wall around the Police Lines Headquarters at H-11 Islamabad; Rs11 million for Phase II of the security measures for police stations/offices in Islamabad and Rs11 million for the Phase I of the project.

Furthermore, Rs10 million were allocated for the construction of Tarnol Police Station Islamabad, while another Rs10 million were allocated for the construction of a wireless complex and residential accommodation for telecommunication staff in sector H-11 Islamabad.

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