Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province as compare to Punjab has been awfully neglected by Finance Division in allocation and release of funds under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during fiscal year 2015-16 as funds were allocated for nine projects of Punjab Province while allocation of funds was made only for three projects of KP.

Out of nine projects of Finance Division six are being constructed in Lahore, 2 in Murree and 1 in Bahawalpur.

According to documents available with Daily Times, funds were allocated for nine projects in Punjab and three projects in KP by Finance Division under PSDP 2015-16. 67 per cent funds were released for the projects in Punjab while 52 per cent funds were released for the projects in KP.

In respect of projects in Punjab, Finance Division has released Rs 8 million out of allocated funds of Rs 10 millions in respect of Management Information System (MIS) development and institutional strengthening of pakistan Mint, Lahore, the total allocated funds of Rs 20 million for development works in Lahore, by Walton Cantonment Board, Rs 40 million (total allocated funds) for Lahore Cantonment Board.

Likewise Rs 40 million allocated funds were released by Finance Division in respect of LESCO development project in Punjab, Rs 200 million (total allocated funds) were released for LDA and total budget allocation of Rs 100 million for Murree Mall Road Expansion Project.

However, funds amounting to Rs 100 million earmarked for Shahi Bagh Cultural Theme Park and budgetary allocation to the tune of Rs 250 million for Bahawalpur development projects have not been released so far.

With regard to KP development projects, Finance Division has released Rs 48.105 million out of total allocated funds of Rs 64.14 million for Burn and Trauma Centre Peshawar, Rs 42.421 million (total budgetary allocation) for Teachers Training Project and Rs 200 million out of Rs 450 million allocated for Children Hospital.

Under PSDP 2015-16, Rs 7.647 billon, out of 14.092 billion allocated funds have been released in respect of all the projects of Finance Division.

PTI led Government in KP has levelled allegations of bias and partiality against federal government for allocating and releasing less funds than Punjab because PML-N government is in place in Punjab. PTI government has accused federation of pursing double standard on several occasions.

Rs 250 million were allocated for development projects in Bahawalpur division but federal government has failed to release a single penny out of allocated funds. Bahawalpur division falls in the most backward areas of South Punjab and double standard is being adopted for different areas of Punjab by provincial government.

Likewise federal government has also not released even allocated funds for uplift schemes for Bahawalpur division and this step motherly treatment has not only fuelled the sense of deprivation among the residents of this area but it has dashed their hopes for moving ahead on path to prosperity.

On the other hand funds allocated for projects in Lahore and Murree have been released.