ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The government is yet to release 88 per cent of the funds earmarked in the current financial year for the development of dairy and livestock in the country. With only four months to go before the year ends there is little or no time left for the concerned ministry to spend the money even if the finance division releases the allocated amount now.

The total amount allocated in the 2008-09 budget for this sector was Rs1.718 billion, however, till the end of January the government had only released Rs219 million, which constituted only 12 per cent of the total allocation, official documents available with Dawn reveal.

Around 70 per cent of the total population lives in villages, which directly or indirectly depend on the dairy and livestock. The present government soon after taking over had declared this sector as one of its priority areas. However, the amount released so far for the development of this sector simply negates the government’s claim.

Several projects suffered heavily due to the shortage of funds, which the government attributes to the ongoing economic meltdown and unavailability of hard cash with the finance ministry.

For the livestock services project, whose focus was the eradication of Rinderpest, a viral disease of buffalos, the government allocated Rs120 million. However, so far the government had only released Rs8 million (7 per cent of the allocated amount).

The national programme for the control and prevention of Avian Influenza, another project for which the government had earmarked Rs371 million, got only 9 per cent of the allocation.

It’s worth mentioning here that the control of Avian Influenza is of critical importance considering its massive impact on the livestock. Over the last couple of years, the disease has caused huge losses to the poultry industry.

Similarly, for the livestock production and development of meat production, the government had allocated Rs316 million, but as of Jan 30, the ministry has only given Rs17 million (5 per cent of the allocation) under this heading.

Another project that suffered due to the shortage of money was milk collection processing and dairy production and development programme. Considering the importance of the project, the government had allocated a maximum Rs350 million, but so far the finance ministry has only released Rs41 million.

The government earmarked Rs155 million for improving reproductive efficiency of cattle in small holders but only Rs25 million released. The upgradation and establishment of animal quarantine station project could only get Rs17 million against its initial allocation of Rs105 million.

Prime Minister’s Special Initiative for Livestock was the only project, which got the maximum 24 per cent of its original allocation. Against the allocation of Rs300 million, the ministry released Rs72 million for this project.