Centre says completed 132 development schemes during 2019-20

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has claimed that it accomplished 132 development schemes of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) during the fiscal year 2019-20, utilising around 80% of the allocated funds for the development projects.

The government said that opposed to the popular perception that the development projects were facing delays, the utilisation of the PSDP funds is around Rs563 billion out of the total allocated amount of Rs701 billion until June 30, 2020.

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that the utilisation of funds was on the higher side in the last two years, compared to the past five-year period.

According to the list of projects sent to the PM Office, the establishment of Specialized Medium Range Weather Forecasting Center (SMRFC) and Strengthening of Weather Forecasting system were completed with an estimated cost of Rs2.502 billion.

With a cost of Rs12.84 billion, the construction of 6-lane highway from Kala Shah Kaku to Lahore Ring Road (18.3 km), including over River Ravi (Lahore Eastern Bypass), has been completed.

The construction of Bhuran-Havalian Expressway (E-35) 29.1km has been completed with a permitted cost of Rs34.165 billion, the list said. It added that the construction of Faisalabad-Khanewal (M-4) having length of 184 km has been accomplished with approved cost of Rs 60.823 billion.

The list included KKH Phase-II Havalian-Thakot (118.057 km) part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with an approved cost of Rs136.659 billion. The construction of Roads Networks for New Islamabad International Airport main link Thalian Link & Periphery Road (length 26km) has been completed with approved cost of Rs11.295 billion, it further said.

Moreover, the construction of Lahore-Multan Motorway (M-3 section) of Karachi-Lahore Motorway has been completed with approved cost of Rs 150.665 billion. The Peshawar-Karachi motorway project, with construction of Sukkur-Multan section, has been carried out with Rs 298.008 billion. The procurement of six Maritime Patrol Vessels (MPVs) was completed with approved cost of Rs 16.28 billion, the list said, adding that 100% PSDP funds were consumed that included 20% advance of the contract cost.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, the work faced delays and would be resumed soon. The Basic Education Community Schools were completed and made operational in the country with approved cost of Rs 5.759 billion. The Planning Commission explained that authorisation of Rs 564.816 million for honorarium of teachers for Jan-June 2020 is pending with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Initiatives.

The sponsors have submitted a summary for Council of Common Interest (CCI) to decide upon the transfer the existing NCHD (National Commission for Human Development) and Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) schools, teachers and students from the Ministry of Federal Education.

Human Development Indicators have improved related to education in Pakistan, with projects costing 3.616 billion. The School of Dentistry Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad has been completed with an approved cost of Rs 1.294 billion.

The acquisition of land and construction of Audit Complex Hayatabad Peshawar has been completed with a cost of Rs105.95 million, construction of barracks in NAB Complex Lahore with the cost of Rs 47.26 million, construction of residential accommodation of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Academy at H-11/1 Islamabad with cost of Rs 102.2 million.

The list further said that construction of Prestressed bridge from Maingri to Fateh Pur Afghana on Nullah Bahain Tehsil Shakargarh District Narowal was done with the cost of Rs895.36 million, construction of additional exam hall at FPSC Peshawar with the cost of Rs27.77 million, construction of Conference Room and Offices at PM’s House at Islamabad with Rs289 million and construction of Office Building of NAB Headquarters Islamabad at G-5/1 Islamabad with the cost of Rs1.769 billion has been completed.

It added that the construction of Premix road, including RCC bridge from Kangar Patan to Seri Sher Shah district Abbottabad, has been completed with a cost of Rs 206.842 million.

The construction of Prestressed bridge over Nallah Bahain Shakargarh pur road in District Narowal was done with the cost of Rs326.451 million, acquisition of land and construction of residential accommodation for NAB KPK with the cost of Rs524.186 million, development schemes for district Shangla Rs300 million, development schemes for district Torghar Rs321.85 million, an extension of I.B Academy Rs375 million, improvement and repair work to block number 1 and IV Markaz-G-6 Alloted to NAB Rawalpindi with the cost of Rs68.78 million.

The up-gradation of Chamba House Lahore cost Rs38.96 million, while the replacement of sewer lines and water supply system of Pak PWD Colony Wahadat Road Lahore Rs26 million. The water supply scheme Baradar Budhall Poodninal Oghi District Manshera was done with cost of Rs78.7 million, and the widening of a road from Ghumanwala to Baigpur in district Gujranwala with Rs442.12 million, installation of tube wells in federal lodge No-1, II, III at Quetta with the cost of Rs21.98 million.

Originally published in The News