PSDP 2013-14: For twin cities, new projects few and far between

Barely 16 per cent of the allocations are for new schemes.

ISLAMABAD:

The government has allocated Rs28.9 billion for development schemes in the twin cities under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)2013-14, but less than one-fifth of the allocations has been earmarked for new projects.

Only Rs4.8 billion have been allocated for new projects in Islamabad and Rawalpindi under various ministries and divisions. The projects include land acquisition for approach roads to the new Islamabad airport, upgradation of some health and educational institutions in Islamabad, and road construction work in rural areas of the capital, according to the budget document released on Wednesday.

The bulk of the allocations — around 83.4 per cent — has been made for ongoing schemes.



Water and Power

Among the ministries, the water and power division will receive the highest percentage of 19.4 per cent of the allocations.

The Rs5.6 billion allocation for the division will be spent mostly on ongoing projects such as the construction of two dams in Rawalpindi as well as distribution and transmission programmes by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco).

CAD

The allocation for Capital Administration and Development Division (CAD) has almost doubled. The division will get Rs1.5 billion, almost twice the Rs0.78 billion allocated during the previous fiscal year.

Interior Division

The Interior Ministry received the most money for new development projects in the federal capital. It would be responsible for 39 new development schemes with a total allocation of around Rs1.65 billion.



Health

The recently-established National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Ministry has the second-highest allocation with Rs2.93 billion. For its ongoing schemes around Rs2.8 billion has been earmarked for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad and Rs56 million for a federal drugs surveillance laboratory.

An allocated Rs65 million to establish a Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, while the Rs298 million cost of replacement and purchase of equipment at Polyclinic Hospital will be financed by a grant from the Government of Japan.

Education

The Higher Education Commission received allocations of Rs2.6 billion for new schemes, but the only notable new projects in Rawalpindi and Islamabad include an unapproved Rs150 million plan for the uplift of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, strengthening of the Islamabad campus of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology for another Rs150 million. For the construction of a girls hostel at Fatima Jinnah Women University
in Rawalpindi, Rs70 million has been earmarked in the PSDP.

Schemes for the rural areas

The bulk of the interior ministry’s new schemes will be initiated in rural areas.

Around Rs32 million have been earmarked for the rehabilitation of six kilometres of roads in rural areas, while around Rs53 million have been set aside for a feasibility study on the construction of bridges and solar-based water supply schemes for the villages, according to the document. Around Rs49.9 million have been allocated for providing drainage facilities in Sihala.

Other new development projects for the rural areas include upgradation of a water supply scheme at Shahdra, improvement in the roads and streets at Golra, rehabilitation of Pagh Panwal Road, water supply schemes in Sihala, Alipur and Nai Abadi, and the construction of pavements in at least 26 villages.

Not for the common man

The Cabinet Division has been allocated around Rs272.6 million for new projects.

These schemes include the construction of additional blocks for the Senate and National Assembly Secretariat, stronger security arrangements at Parliament Lodges, and two projects related to the Islamabad Heliport.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2013.