By Asma Bloach
Islamabad: Under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the government has so far released Rs 1.342 billion for various ongoing projects of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication this year.
According to the data revealed, China has released Rs 1.15 billion for formation of cross-border Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) system between China and Pakistan for international connectivity of voice traffic for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The government had allocated Rs 922.804 million, which included Rs 722.804 million local component and Rs 150 million foreign component.
Besides Rs 1.15 billion for fibre optic project, a total of Rs 198 million fund was released for projects, constituting Rs 13.44 million against computerization of Prime Minister Secretariat (Phase-II) project and Rs 20 million for construction of OFC system between China and Pakistan for international connectivity.
In the same way the amount released for other projects included Rs 2.46 million for e-enablement of the Federal Investigation Agency, Islamabad against the planned Rs 6.1 million, Rs 3.2 million for establishment of coordination unit at IT & Telecom Division (International Coordination Unit) against the budgeted Rs 8 million, Rs 10 million for extension of Islamabad Hospital (Hospital Management Information System) and networking facilities to Children Hospital (PIMS).
The government also released Rs 45.8 million for GSM expansion of NAs (All Areas) against projected Rs 118.45 million, Rs 24 million for laying of OFC to connect distant locations of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) against the budgeted Rs 60 million, Rs 24 million for provision of GSM sevices in Neelum District of AJK (Phase-I) against Rs 60 million, Rs 36 million for purchase of land in Karachi and Lahore for establishment of IT Parks against budgeted Rs 350 million, Rs 4 million for strengthening of server room at Ministry of IT, and Rs 12 million for site development and construction of boundary wall at Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) site for establishment of IT Park at Chak Shahzad, Islamabad.