The Ministry of Planning and Development issued a report on the allocation of development funds in the first four months of the fiscal year 2022-23, according to media reports.
The details revealed that the Planning and Development Commission approved a total of Rs 98.78 billion for various development projects throughout the country. The total budget for development for the year is Rs 727 billion.
As per the report, the ministry released Rs 610 million of the total Rs 7 billion allocated for education over the four months. It said Rs 2.53 billion out of Rs 44 billion had been set aside for higher education.
The Ministry allocated only Rs 160 million from the total Rs 12.65 billion public health budget, while provinces, FATA, and Gilgit Baltistan received Rs 12.70 billion from the total Rs 140 billion.
Moreover, the Ministry of Interior received Rs 400 million, Food Security received Rs 790 million, Railways received Rs 3.20 billion, Water Resources received Rs 18 billion, and National Highways Authority received Rs 20 billion (NHA).
The report added that the cabinet division received Rs 70 million out of a total of Rs 87 billion. Another Rs 33 billion was allocated to federal projects.
The PSDP 2022-23 book revealed that the allocation for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was Rs 68 billion, which was later increased to Rs 87 billion. The SDGs allocation was increased so that all 174 members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in the National Assembly would receive Rs 500 million for development projects.
Furthermore, the funds will be used to carry out small projects related to sewage lines, street maintenance, and gas, water, and electricity projects under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate Change Division has spent Rs 34.70 million, or 0.4 percent of the allocated Rs 9.5 billion, in the PSDP 2022-23. During the first four months, the Planning Commission released Rs 1.9 billion. Similarly, the Finance Division has spent Rs 14.59 million, or 0.84 percent of the allocated amount of Rs 1.66 billion. The Finance Division has received Rs 286.46 million from the Planning Commission.