ISLAMABAD, June 19: The government has allocated Rs4.073 billion for ongoing and new development schemes in the Northern Areas under the Public Sector Development Programme 2004-05.

Of the allocation, Rs2.77 billion would be spent on Kashmir and Northern Areas division-funded projects and Rs1.3 billion on federal government-funded schemes.

An amount of Rs701.188 million has been earmarked for projects to be executed in Northern Areas as well as other provinces.

In the water and power sector, Rs990 million has been allocated for three major projects. Of this Rs600 million would be spent on the Rs2.09 billion Satpara project, including a Rs195.8 million foreign component. In the 2003-04 PSDP), Rs617.9 million was spent on the project and Rs1.472 billion was carried forward.

The government has allocated Rs350 million allocated for the Bhasha/Diamer Dam. The cost of the project is Rs900.1 million, including Rs96.6 million provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (Cida). In the outgoing financial year Rs554.3 million was spent on the project and Rs345.8 million was carried forward.

An allocation of Rs40 million has been made for the Rs193.7 million Bunji-Hydro-Power-project, including a Rs88.3 million foreign component. In the outgoing year Rs112.8 million was spent on the project and Rs80.9 million was carried forward.

In the health sector Rs150 million has been allocated for the Gilgit Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine project. An amount of Rs50 million was spent on the project during 2003-04 and Rs499.2 million was carried forward.

In the education sector, Rs150 million has been earmarked for the phase-I of the Karakoram International University project against an allocation of Rs400 million in 2003-04. Only 30 per cent of the allocation could be spent and Rs250.8 million was carried forward.

An amount of Rs2 million has been earmarked for the setting up of four information technology centres - at the federal government colleges for women in Gilgit and Skardu and for men at the Gilgit Postgraduate College and the Skardu Degree College. Of the cost of Rs71.8 million, Rs68.8 million was spent during 2003-04 and Rs2 million was carried forward.

An amount of Rs20 million has been allocated for the population welfare programme; Rs17.7 million was spent on the programme during the last financial year and Rs143.6 million was carried forward.

An allocation of Rs13.950 million has been made for the construction of a special education centre in Gilgit. Of the cost of Rs40 million of the project, Rs26 million was spent during 2003-04 and Rs14 million was carried forward.

An allocation of Rs3.06 million has been made for two community development projects at Ghanche and Ghizer districts. The cost of the projects is Rs16 million and Rs3.6 million was spent on those during 2003-04.

For the construction of a rehabilitation centre for special people in Hunza, an allocation of Rs12.409 million has been made. The cost of the project is Rs28 million.

An allocation of Rs11.178 million has been made for the improvement of management of the Khunjerab National Park. Of the approved cost of Rs47.5 million, Rs13.4 million during 2003-04.

An amount of Rs1.6 million has been earmarked for the construction of two inter-agency complexes (customs houses) at Khudabad and Sost. The cost of the projects is Rs23.3 million - 15.3 million for Khudabad and Rs8 million for the Sost project; Rs9.3 million was spent on the Khudabad complex during 2003-04 and Rs6.5 million on the Sost complex.

In the communications sector, Rs15 million has been allocated for three unapproved projects which were excluded from the PSDP. An amount of Rs5 million has been allocated for the 63km Jhalkad-Chilas road against Rs50 million last year.

An amount of Rs10 million has been allocated for the KKH-Skardu road and the construction of five bridges. The cost of the two projects is Rs1.39 billion and Rs190 million, respectively. During 2003-04, Rs50 million was spent on each of the two projects and Rs1.29 billion was carried forward.

In the telecommunications sector, Rs250 million has been allocated for four projects. Of the allocation, Rs90 million will be spent on laying optic fibre cable with transmission system between Mansehra and Gilgit. The cost of the project is Rs286 million, Rs110 million was spent on it last years and Rs176 million was carried forward. another Rs30 million has been allocated for laying of optic fibre cable and transmission system between Gilgit and Skardu, which will cost Rs198 million.

An allocation of Rs50 million has been made for provision of 15,000 local telephone connections in the region. The cost of the project is Rs195.5 million.

For an unapproved project of expansion and improvement of telecommunication facilities in the Northern Areas, phase-II, which was excluded from the PSDP, an allocation of Rs80 million has been made. The cost of the project is Rs669 million.

An amount of Rs16 million has been allocated under the PSDP for the water sector, including short-term research studies to improve water resources. The project will cost Rs28 million.

For the construction of a sports stadium in Skardu, Rs10 million has been earmarked. The cost of the project is Rs29.2 million and Rs1 million has been spent on it.

An amount of Rs7.79 million has been earmarked for a roadside facility at Astak. The project's cost is Rs12.2 million and Rs3.4 million was spent on it during 2003-04.

An amount of Rs15 million has been allocated for improved water conservation practices in the NWFP and the Northern Areas.

For the buck thorn exploitation and development in Gilgit, Baltistan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan and Zhob, Rs5.348 million has been earmarked.

An allocation of Rs45.31 million has been made for IT and computer science teachers and laboratory instructors and setting up of laboratories in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the Northern Areas and Islamabad.

For human resource development in IT in Fata, the Northern Areas and AJK, an allocation of Rs2.45 million has been made.

An allocation of Rs250 million has been made for a GSM project for AJK and the Northern Areas, to be executed by the Special Communications Organization.

For the international gateway and earth station in AJK and the Northern Areas, Rs33 million has been earmarked.