Expenditure from the state budget on the Public Sector Investment Program reached USD 246.43 million through late August, statistics published by the Ministry of Finance And Public Enterprises show.
Against an anticipated annual allocation of USD 538.26 million for investment projects this year, actual spending totalled USD 246.43 million as of 27 August, according to the ministry’s latest Weekly Fiscal Development Report. Capital spending for the programme reached USD 350.19 million during the matching period last year. The report details outlays for state-funded projects designed to improve public social conditions.
Development projects remain distributed across several functional categories, led by economic development, which absorbed USD 103.76 million. Transportation commanded the heaviest concentration within that sector, totalling USD 84.31 million. Outlays for general public services rose to USD 41.91 million from USD 23.05 million a year earlier, with USD 41.58 million directed towards managing state-controlled lands. Housing expenditures expanded to USD 34.95 million, marking a 106 per cent increase from the USD 16.95 million recorded during the corresponding period last year, while health sector investments reached USD 15.73 million, compared with USD 14.31 million allocated previously.
The contraction in overall public spending reflects enhanced cost control and tighter oversight of execution, ministry officials noted. Beginning this fiscal year, the government mandated that all public investment projects demonstrate economic return and utility prior to implementation. The government established a dedicated Project Preparatory Fund within this year’s national budget to evaluate project necessity and conduct feasibility studies before advancing new capital works.