Infrastructure, development get Rs190bn

ISLAMABAD The utilisation of funds for development schemes of the former parliamentarians appeared to taper off on the eve of elections yet remained the second-largest expenditure portfolio in the Rs190 billion overall disbursements for a struggling Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the first seven months of 2023-24. The latest data on development expenditure released by the Planning Commission, special areas including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and the erstwhile Fata areas emerged as the largest head with Rs40.5bn in the July-January period, followed by Rs35.6bn of the parliamentarian’s scheme. However, if seen in the context of budget allocations, the parliamentarian schemes overshadowed even the special areas. The special areas consumed less than 24pc of Rs167bn allocation compared to 40pc by MNAs schemes envisaging Rs90bn budget allocation. In January alone, the expenditure in special areas increased by Rs10bn to Rs40.5bn in seven months, up by almost 37pc while the parliamentarian’s scheme — the so-called SDGs Achievement Plan (SAP) — inched up by just Rs480 million to Rs35.62bn against Rs35.14bn by end of December, up 1.4pc.