Inside Public Sector Development Program!

The Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2022-23 parking over Rs.800 billion can be seen from many angles and of them one is that this development initiative will have cash for projects that remained dry during the last quarter of the year 2021-22.
The PSDP 2021-22 had already been slashed and brought down to Rs550 billion for severe cash flows during the previous government and at one point it was announced having nothing to fund the last quarter.
How cash will flow now is to be seen for the fragile economic situation, the new PSDP has many projects that deserve appreciation for sure but simultaneously one can find several making you wonder why they are included.
For instance, the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway Project (M-6) which is on the list of Communication Division projects must be appreciated as it was a missing link in the motorways chain. Despite repeated demands, the project failed to attract any sympathetic hearing during the previous government.
The project will have Rs.4000 million in the program and be built on BOT costing Rs 308,193.999 million. In the year 2021, the ECNEC approved the project.
Also, the program has a 5 MGD Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Plant for Gwadar City. A significant project, realized after repeated demands from the local people and for which now the federal government will put 67 percent share in the total cost of the project. This year this project will have Rs.600 million.
Then we see two expo centers, one each in Peshawar and Quetta. Two ongoing projects of the Commerce Division, Peshawar Expo Center will have Rs.174.44 million and Quetta Rs.1000 million.
In the Aviation Division, an allocation of Rs. 2000 million has been made for the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA). A $246 million greenfield airport is being built on an area of 4,300 acres and will be operational by September 2023.
The airport’s development is a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development, which is a cornerstone of China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.
The airport will be the biggest in Pakistan and also become the nation’s second airport capable of handling A380 aircraft upon its commissioning in 2022. It is expected to stimulate development in the Gwadar peninsula and boost trade between Pakistan and China.
The program has Rs.500 million for the Feasibility Study and Acquisition of Land for the Islamabad Model Special Economic Zone approved by CDWP in 2022.
Then on the climate change side, a hefty amount of Rs. 9458 million has been earmarked for Upscaling of Green Pakistan Program approved by CDWP in 2019.
Clean Green Pakistan (CGP) was a flagship five-year campaign of Imran Khan. Under this campaign, the government aims to implement activities first in Islamabad and then trigger similar actions at the provincial level.
Furthermore, a 4-lane Hub Bypass project covering 16 kilometers has been included in the program and an amount of Rs.100 million has been allocated.
In ongoing schemes of the Defence Division, National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP) Aviation City Pakistan (ACP) has secured Rs. 800 million, new projects namely ‘Establishment of New Generation National Geodetic Datum of Pakistan has Rs.21 million, Institute of Inclusive Education, Islamabad Rs.86.515 million and National University of Pakistan, Islamabad has 200.000.
NIHD Center of Excellence for Preventive, Cardiovascular Research & Development has Rs. 50 million and Acquisition of Land from CDA for Establishing Medical City at Islamabad by National University of Medical Science (Phase-I) has 50 million.
40MW Dowarian Hydro Power Project, Neelum has been allocated with Rs.100 million.
In the Higher Education sector, Rs.1000 million have been earmarked for awarding scholarships to 3000 students from Afghanistan. Also, Rs.1500 million has been allocated for the Youth Laptop Scheme.
In the Industries sector, we have a Development of Dates Storage, Processing and Packaging Plant in Turbat having Rs.100 million.
Interestingly enough Rs. 50 million has been allocated for the Strengthening of the Engineering Industry, a project approved in 2022.
The program has Rs. 245.861 for the Establishment of a Business Park at Korangi Fish Harbour, Rs. 265.740 for the Installation of a Floating Jetty at Gwadar Fish Harbour, Rs. 1000 for Maintenance Dredging of Gwadar Port, and Rs.500 million for providing 2000 Engines to Poor Fishermen Gwadar.
The planning and Development division wants to construct the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Campus on H-11/2, Islamabad. Amount of Rs.1500 million has been earmarked for the feasibility and construction.
For National Endowment Scholarships for Talent (NEST), an amount of Rs. 1000 million has been allocated to the program.
The Innovation Support Project has received 9000 million, Special Development Initiatives for Backward and Poor Districts in the Country Rs.20000 million.n