May 27, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24,1424

ISLAMABAD, May 26: As many as 142 projects, out of a total 204 public sector ongoing projects, have been categorized as “slow” while another five projects declared “sick” due to slow implementation and non-utilization of funds.

The total cost of these 142 slow moving projects is estimated at Rs2,464 billion. During fiscal year 2002-03, the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) envisaged an allocation of around Rs30 billion for these 142 projects. Only Rs12 billion could be utilized this year, showing a utilization ratio of 43 per cent against allocation.

Similarly, five projects of the total cost of Rs28 billion have been classified by the Planning Commission as sick. The PSDP 2002-03 had envisaged Rs2.8 billion for these projects but only Rs594 million could be utilized, showing utilization ratio of 21 per cent.

Only 57 projects of the total cost of Rs288 billion have been classified as satisfactory. About Rs44 billion were earmarked for these 57 projects but Rs28.5 billion could be utilized, showing a utilization rate of 65 per cent.

In overall terms, about Rs78 billion could be utilized during first three quarters of the current fiscal year out of a total PSDP allocation of Rs134 billion, showing about 58 per cent utilization.

Planning Commission sources said that the finance ministry keeps a slow pace of releases during the first three quarters to contain fiscal deficit which otherwise goes up due to losses of the public sector corporations.

According to a latest report of the commission, the ministry of water and power is implementing 42 projects costing Rs40 million and above with a total cost of Rs576 billion.

The PSDP allocation this year for these projects was Rs40 billion. Out of this only Rs16.5 billion were released till March 2003 which is 41 per cent of the PSDP allocation. The expenditure during the period amounted to Rs16.07 billion, a further lower than releases.

On the power side, the power ministry is implementing 17 projects worth Rs293 billion. The allocation for the power sector in 2002-03 was Rs29 billion. Out of this, only Rs13.8 billion have been released and utilized which is 47 per cent of the allocation.

In the water sector, the ministry is sponsoring 25 projects at a total cost of Rs183 billion. PSDP allocation for the current year was Rs11 billion of which only Rs2.7 billion could be released. The expenditure during this period was Rs2.5 billion which is 83 per cent of the release and 21 per cent of allocation.

The petroleum ministry is implementing five projects in oil gas, coal and mineral sub-sector at a cost of Rs2.4 billion. The PSDP allocation 2002-03 was Rs303 million. Out this amount, Rs142 million have been released whereas Rs98 million have been utilized. The utilization is 69 per cent of the released and 32 per cent of the allocation.

The communication ministry is implementing 42 projects of the total cost of Rs186 billion. The allocation for the current year was Rs24 billion while releases amounted to Rs18 billion. During the period Rs17 billion could be utilized which is 70 per cent of the allocation and 94 per cent of the releases.

Interior ministry is implementing 10 projects of Rs8.7 billion. The PSDP allocation for these projects during 2002-03 was Rs1.113 billion. Only Rs416 million were released during July-March period which is 37 per cent of the allocation. The expenditure was only Rs194 million which is 47 per cent of the releases and 17 per cent of the allocation.

The science and technology ministry has 8 ongoing projects of the total cost of Rs3 billion. The PSDP allocation for these projects is Rs490 million. Out of this, Rs186 million have been released during July-March 2002-03 which is 38 per cent of the PSDP allocation. The expenditure was Rs152 million which was 82 per cent of the releases and 31 per cent of the allocation.

The ministry of housing and works is implementing 10 projects at a total cost of Rs2.4 billion. The PSDP allocation for these projects is Rs174 million. Only Rs111 million were released which was 64 per cent of PSDP allocation. The expenditure was Rs33 million which is 30 per cent of the releases and 19 per cent of the allocation.

The ministry of IT and telecom has 8 ongoing projects of Rs4.7 billion. Rs1.637 billion were allocated in the budget of which Rs1.175 billion were released and Rs1.024 billion utilized which is 87 per cent of the releases and 63 per cent of the allocation.

The food ministry has 14 ongoing projects of Rs15 billion. The PSDP allocation for the ministry was Rs514 million of which 404 million have been released which is 79 per cent of the allocation. The expenditure was Rs162 million which is 42 per cent of the releases and 31 per cent of the allocation.

The health ministry is implementing 14 projects of Rs22 billion. The PSDP allocation was Rs3.2 billion of which Rs1.3 billion have been released which is 43.5 per cent of the PSDP. The expenditure was Rs1.09 billion which is 78 per cent of the releases and 34 per cent of the PSDP allocation.

The population ministry is implementing five projects costing Rs15.6 billion. The PSDP allocation for these projects for the current year is Rs2.2 billion. Of this Rs1.65 billion have been released. The education ministry has 18 ongoing projects costing Rs13.6 billion. The PSDP allocation for these projects was Rs571 million during the current fiscal.

Of this Rs279 million were released which is 49 per cent of the PSDP. Expenditure amounted to Rs207 million which is 74 per cent of releases and 36 per cent of the PSDP.