ISLAMABAD, May 29: The government has approved an amount of Rs14.9 billion for education, Higher Education Commission, health, information technology and science and technological research division for the year 2003-04 under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

These allocations were approved here on Thursday in the meeting of the National Economic Council, which was presided over by Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali. Except IT and telecommunication all the ministries have registered an increased funding for different development projects under PSDP.

Out of this Rs14.9bn, Rs3bn has been earmarked for the education division for the year 2003-04 as compared to 2002-03 when Rs1.7bn was earmarked.

An amount of Rs4.4bn was reserved for HEC when in the 2002-03, Rs3.7bn was given for different projects of the commission.

In the health sector Rs4.4bn for the year 2003-04 has been earmarked as compared to Rs3.3bn during 2002-03.

The IT and telecommunication sector will get Rs1.7bn in the year 2003-04 as compared to previous allocations of Rs3.2bn. The S&T sector will be getting an increased allocation of Rs1.3bn as compared to Rs953 million allocated last year in 2002-03.