ISLAMABAD, June 10: The federal government has earmarked Rs68 million for various projects to be implemented by the interior and defence division in Northern Areas under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2005-06.

This amount is part of the total Rs2.67 billion allocation in the PSDP for various ongoing schemes being implemented directly by various federal ministries/division in Gilgit-Baltistan.

A separate allocation of Rs3.40 billion has been made for Northern Areas division for its uplift projects.

The budget document shows that an amount of Rs10 million will be spent on water supply to Frontier Constabulary headquarters in Gilgit. An equal amount has been earmarked for construction of FC lines and offices at Jutial, Gilgit. The two projects will be completed at a cost of Rs50.4 million.

The paramilitary forces were deployed in the city after curriculum-related violence in the region. .

Of the total allocation an amount of Rs10 million will be spent on construction of offices, quarters guards, messes for officers and junior commissioned officers of 113 wing of the newly-raised Northern Areas Scout (NAS) at the NAS headquarters in Gilgit. The total cost of the project is Rs38.2 million.

Another Rs10 million has been allocated for construction of accommodation units for single and married personnel of the 113 wing of the NAS at Gilgit. The estimated cost of the project is Rs38.3 million. An additional amount of Rs10 million has been allocated for construction of accommodation for officers, JCOs and orderlies of the NAS in Gilgit. The project will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs38.9 million.

Another Rs10 million has been set aside for construction of accommodation at the 112 wing of the Northern Areas Scout at Skardu. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs37.8 million.

DEFENCE DIVISION: An amount of Rs0.8 million has been allocated from the public fund for construction of boundary walls and repair of offices, buildings and residential quarters for army personnel in the newly established Astore district.