ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday released over Rs 37.6 billion under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19 for various ongoing and new schemes against the total allocations of Rs 675 billion. The released funds includd Rs 24.8 billion for federal ministries and Rs 11.8 billion for special areas, a latest data released by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform said. Out of these allocations, Rs 2.78 billion were released for Communication Division (other than National Highway Authority) for which the government had earmarked Rs 13.9 billion under the PSDP 2018-19. The Railways Division received Rs 4.17 billion out of its total allocation of Rs 28.06 billion whereas the Aviation Division received Rs 205.45 million out of its total allocation of Rs 3.6 billion. The government also released an amount of Rs 4.6 billion for various development projects of Higher Education Commission out of total allocation of Rs 30.9 billion, while Rs 4.7 billion have been released for the Atomic Energy Commission. The Water Resource Division received Rs 455 million out of its total allocation of Rs 77.99 billion under the PSDP 2018-19. The government also released Rs 593 million for the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Division for which an amount of Rs 10.9 billion had been allocated in the federal PSDP 2018-19, while Rs 60 million were released for the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority out of its total allocations of Rs 285 million. An amount of Rs 60 million was released for the Finance Division out of its total allocations of Rs 12.34 billion while Rs 153 million was released for the Climate Change Division out of its total allocations of Rs 802 million for the current year. Similarly, an amount of Rs 9.3 million was released for the Petroleum Division out of allocations of Rs 463 million, Rs 865 million for Planning, Development and Reform Division out of its allocations of Rs 7.05 billion whereas Rs 246.7 million were released for the SUPARCO out of its allocations of Rs 2.9 billion. Likewise, the government also released Rs 20 million for the Human Rights Division, and Rs 226 million for the National Food Security and Research Division. The government also released Rs 4.74 billion for AJK (block and other projects) out of its allocations of Rs 25.8. billion, and Rs 7.1 billion for Gilgit Baltistan (block and other projects) out of its allocations of Rs 17.5 billion. The government also released Rs 60 million for NTDC/PEPCO out of total allocation of Rs 33.3 billion, whereas Rs 110 million were released for the ERRA out of its total allocations of Rs 6.5 billion. An amount of Rs799 million was released for the Prime Minister’s Youth Hunarmand Programme , Special Federal Development Programme for Temporarily Displaced Persons and Security Enhancement, and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess. According to a statement, the Planning Commission of Pakistan has been following a proper mechanism for the release of funds and accordingly funds are released as per given mechanism. The commission releases 20% of funds in first quarter (July September), 20% in second quarter (October December), 25% third quarter (January March) and 35% in fourth quarter (April June). Published in Daily Times, October 8th 2018.