PESHAWAR: Development plan to change Fata, says official
PESHAWAR, May 17: The Fata Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) reflects the realistic approach of the government towards rapid development of the area and bringing people to the mainstream of development and prosperity.
This was stated by Fata additional chief secretary Javed Iqbal while addressing a day-long workshop on “Infrastructure Project Implementation in Fata: Challenges and Opportunities” held at the Pakistan Academy for Rural Development under the auspices of the planning and development department of Fata.
He said that the main objective of the workshop was to hold interactive sessions with all stakeholders associated with infrastructure development in Fata and work out suggestions for improving the implementation capacities.Mr Iqbal said the implementation of the Fata Sustainable Development Plan had become a challenge for all the quarters concerned, especially executing agencies, adding that there was a need to strengthen the coordination between the institutions concerned and executing agencies.
The additional chief secretary said the successful implementation of the plan would not only bring about a revolutionary change in the socio-economic development of the area people but would also provide an opportunity to public and private organisations to add new feathers in the list of their achievements.
He said the government was committed to providing an environment conducive to development and no efforts would be spared to ensure smooth working conditions in this respect. “Things have improved to a great extent and the situation will further improve with the passage of time,” he added.
Mr Iqbal said: “In-depth deliberations and valuable suggestions of the conference have moved us closer to our goals and they will contribute to further cementing our resolve and reorient our approach to derive maximum results of investments being made for the development of Fata.”
The workshop was divided into five thematic areas -- institutional capacity in Fata, public sector contracting system, alternative contracting modalities, capacity of construction market and role of engineering consultants.
The P&DD secretary, general-manager of the planning and monitoring, Fata Development Authority, managing director of the PPRA, officials of the Pakistan Army, Wapda, SHYDO, NAS, USAID, FHA, heads of engineering consultants and construction companies and project directors of various development projects attended the workshop.—APP
