ISLAMABAD, May 29: The Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) has approved Rs586.037 million for women development and social welfare division under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2004-05 as against the Rs652.6 million allocated under the PSDP 2003-2004.

According to the recommendations of the APCC priorities committee, the money would go to the 28 ongoing projects of the women development ministry.

The ministry had demanded a hefty amount of Rs1.562 billion under the PSDP 2004-05, however, the APCC recommended only Rs586 million.

According to the official documents, of the approved Rs586.037 budget for the women development division, Rs200 million have been allocated for Tawana Pakistan, a nutrition package for primary school girls in 29 under-developed districts of the country.

Under Tawana Pakistan Programme, the primary level schoolgoing girls are provided lunch at school with additional doses of vitamins etc.

The next major projects in terms of allocation are Normal Women Development Programme with an allocation of Rs140 million and Design Manuals and Model Projects for Buildings and Facilities for Persons with Disabilities, Rs 21 million.

National Institute of Special Education, H-8/4, Housing Colony for Teachers and Staff of Directorate of Special Education, National Library and Resource Centre at F-7, Construction of Special Education Centre at Gilgit and Rehabilitation Centre at Hunza will get Rs19 million, Rs14 million, Rs13.7 million, Rs13.9 million and Rs12 million respectively.

National Training Centre for Special Persons, G-9/2, Special Education Centres at Okara, Kohat, Sibbi, Hyderabad will get Rs15 million each under the PSDP 2004-05. Development of Park for the Disabled at Islamabad and Conversion of 5 Special Education Centres into Centres of Excellence have been allocated Rs10 million each.