The government slashed the budget of 72 projects mainly belonging to the health, education and communication sectors, in order to provide funds for four dozen new projects included in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) on the recommendation of its coalition partners.
According to the official documents, the Ministry of Planning cut the allocation of Rs22.8 billion for 72 projects which comprised the scheme for rehabilitation of the people residing along the Line of Control (LoC), the Gwadar Safe City project, and the Special Development Initiatives for the Backward Districts of Pakistan.
A reduction of an amount of Rs200 million out of the allocation of Rs300 million for rehabilitating the people influenced by the heavy shelling from Indian forces shows the apathy of the government towards these people.
Consequently, seventy-two schemes had to suffer due to the decision to add 47 new schemes to the PSDP after the consent of the budget by the National Assembly.
Sources reported that those projects were mainly located in Balochistan whereas the allocation for the hospital schemes of Gilgit-Baltistan was also slashed, hence delaying their completion for years.
Moreover, the National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed the reduction in funding for the 72 schemes and the inclusion of 47 more in the PSDP.?After the NECÂ’s approval, the planning ministry started to release funds for the new schemes and approval of technical supplementary grants has also been taken.?
The following sectors faced the axe after the decision was made:
-
Out of the total allocation of Rs23 billion, Rs8.7 billion has been taken from the annual budget of the provinces and special areas, Rs1.2 billion from the National Highway Authority, and Rs1.5 billion from the Ministry of Housing and Works
-
Rs5 billion has been cut from the allocation of innovation support projects
-
Rs2 billion has been slashed from the allocation for the special development of backward areas
-
Rs200 million has been curtailed from the allocation for a project designed to expedite the response to diseases like HIV/AIDs and malaria
-