ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: The federal government has released Rs32.9 billion in first two months (July-August) of 2012-13 for various projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), official figure revealed here on Saturday.

Of the total releases up to August 31, 2012, the infrastructure sector received Rs16.1 billion, social sector Rs15.4 billion, others sectors Rs0.5 billion and ERRA Rs0.8 billion for 1,075 projects.

The size of the PSDP is Rs360 billion including Rs100 billion as foreign exchange component (FEC) and Rs27 billion as Special Programme.

The releases against Special Programmes are being made by Cabinet Division through the Finance ministry, while the foreign aid disbursement amount is received through the Economic Affairs Division.

However, for the power sector projects the rupee/dollar component is arranged by Wapda from its own resources, and it is not part of budget and this component is released by Planning and Development Division for few exceptional cases only.

However, no fund had been released for ongoing Diamer Basha Dam during the period under review.

Releases for some of notable projects are as under: National Programme for Family Planning & Primary Health Care Rs2.19 billion, Population Welfare Programme Punjab (2010-15) Rs310 million, Population Welfare Programme Sindh (2010-15) Rs177 million and National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Programme (MNCH) (UK) Rs209.244 million.

And Safety Analysis Centre (SAC) to provide Regulatory Support and for Indigenisation of NPP in Pakistan Rs25.356 million, Establishment of National Dosimetry and Protection Level Calibration Laboratory (PNRA) Rs21.136 million, Enhancement in Exhibition Halls and Additional Technology Works (Expo Centre Lahore Phase-II) Rs200 million, 2 x 50 MW Power Plant from Syngas (IGCC-2009) Tharparkar Rs900 million.