BAJAUR, July 5: Several development schemes launched with an estimated cost of Rs220 million remained incomplete owing to a delay in the release of funds by the finance ministry, Dawn has learnt.

The funds allocated for the schemes lapsed as these could not be utilized in the scheduled time.

Sources said that dozens of development schemes had been launched in the Bajaur Agency under the Khushal Pakistan Programme, Social Action Programme and Annual Development Programme with a total cost of Rs220 million in the just-ended financial year. As the funds were not released on time, most of the projects remained incomplete.

The sources revealed that as the funds were not released on time, they could not be utilized up to June 30, and thus lapsed automatically. The funds amounting to Rs30 million went back to the account of the finance ministry, the sources said, adding that most of the projects remained incomplete.

The sources said the finance ministry released huge development funds in March and April and the utilization of such a big amount could not be made possible in only three months.

They said the political administration had declared most of the projects completed as substandard and ordered a disciplinary action against the C&W department and the contractors.