Islamabad: The federal government has formally approved the release of Rs43 billion in development funds for members of the National Assembly under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Program, sources confirmed.
The funds will be utilized during the current fiscal year to complete small-scale development projects across the country and will be allocated exclusively to ruling party lawmakers.
Sources said the decision was taken by the steering committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, which also approved Rs250 million for each MNA. The disbursed amount is part of an earlier approved Rs50 billion development package.
According to the breakdown, Punjab will receive the largest share at Rs23.5 billion, including Rs5.9 billion for rural electrification projects.
Sindh lawmakers will receive Rs15.3 billion, of which Rs10.9 billion will be spent through the provincial government, while Rs4.3 billion will be utilized via a development company.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been allocated Rs1.3 billion, and Balochistan will receive Rs2.3 billion. Additionally, Rs750 million has been earmarked for three constituencies of the federal capital, Islamabad.
Sources further revealed that SDGs projects do not pass through routine scrutiny mechanisms and that the funds will be transferred directly to provinces through the Cabinet Division.
It is worth noting that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its recent report, raised serious concerns over discretionary spending, warning that such funds could remain concentrated among influential groups and highlighting limited transparency and weak oversight in budget execution.
