KARACHI, Aug 25: Sindh minister for planning and development Syed Shoaib Bokhari has asked the districts nazims to prepare and approve new and unapproved schemes by Sept 30 to complete the work in a stipulated time.

Provincial minister in a letter to all nazims of Sindh felt that an impression is prevailing that things are not moving as visualized by the government, most probably due to incoherent approach and lack of perspicacity and harmonization between executing agencies, districts governments and the provincial government.

"This state of affairs is leading to an inordinate delay in the completion of uplift schemes, which is not a good sign, he noted. Expressing concern over the slow pace of development projects in district governments, he recalled that the ECNEC meeting held under the chairmanship of the federal finance minister on July 27 discussed this issue.

"It decided that PC-1 for the projects included in 2004-05, and which are still unapproved be submitted by Sept 30, otherwise, the projects would be dropped from the PSDP," he added.

Besides this decision, he mentioned, the provincial cabinet on June 16 also decided that schemes requiring revision be also prepared and got approved by Sept 30 for judicious and timely utilization of funds.

Shoaib Bokhari said that the Sindh Government was keen in development activities by initiating an audacious task to accelerate the pace of development.

"This can be gauged from the fact that allocations for development projects have also been increased to Rs 18 billion in the ADP 2004-05, higher than Rs 7 billion and Rs 11 billion in corresponding years of 2002-03 and 2003-04 besides Rs 1.9 billion envisaged for foreign-aided projects," he added.

He observed that the completion of these schemes would push the province towards self-sustained economic growth, reduce penury, generate employment on province-wide basis, ensure good governance and restore quality of life and improve social service. - PPI