Rs430 million grant cleared for Punjab’s sustainable development projects

LAHORE: The government is set to approve a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs430 million through the Ministry of Defence for development projects in Punjab, under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP).

According to sources, the President of Pakistan has authorised the transfer of Rs430 million to the Finance Division, which will then allocate the same amount as a TSG to the Ministry of Defence for the execution of SAP projects in Punjab.

This decision comes after the SAP Steering Committee, in its meeting on November 20, 2024, approved the release of funds, following the programme’s guidelines issued on June 13, 2022. The Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives has given the green light for the disbursement of these funds during the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The Ministry of Defence, along with the relevant executing agencies, is tasked with ensuring that all necessary legal and administrative procedures are followed in the utilisation, reconciliation, and auditing of the allocated funds. This is to ensure transparency, accountability, and to prevent any financial mismanagement.

The approval for the transfer of funds was granted by the Cabinet Secretary/Principal Accounting Officer (PAO) and the Deputy Prime Minister, who also serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the SAP Steering Committee.

Earlier, on February 26, 2025, the Finance Ministry had advised the Ministry of Defence to present a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for the approval of the TSG, which is linked to the surrender of funds by the Cabinet Division.

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