RAWALPINDI: Divisional Development Working Party (DDWP) has set Dec 31 as new deadline for completion of development schemes initiated in 2016-17for Rawalpindi Division.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Secretariat, Establishment and Capital Administration and Development Division Raja Javed Ikhlas chaired the DDWP meeting at commissioner’s office, Rawalpindi on Saturday.

The meeting was attended by acting Commissioner Rawalpindi Talat Mehmood Gondal, MNA Malik Ibrar and Director Development and Finance Noureen Basheer.

Acting commissioner Talat Mehmood Gondal ordered completion of development schemes initiated during 2016-17 by Dec 31.

The development schemes under Phase-II may be identified, approved and tendering process be finalised before Oct 31. The completion certificates should be sent to the federal government within three months after the project is completed, he said.

MNA Malik Ibrar said the Punjab Government was vigilant to provide better health, medical and education facilities to its people for which enormous schemes have been initiated.

MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas said that the Punjab government was endeavouring to improve living standard of people but this can’t be achieved without the support of the people.

“It is now the responsibility of the departments to execute the schemes to make it fruitful for the people,” he added.

Briefing the meeting about the ongoing schemes, the officials said under Phase-I there were 337 schemes for Rawalpindi district for which Rs1.4 billion had been allocated. So far, 199 schemes had been completed and 95pc funds utilised.

Under Phase-II, they said there were 161 total schemes for Rawalpindi District out of which four are completed and work is in progress on remaining 157 schemes.

The official said that Rs147 million had been allocated for each NA constituency under Phase-III.

He said that a total of 124 schemes had been identified for Rawalpindi District of them 42 schemes of NA-50, 52, 53, 54 and 56 had been approved while 82 schemes were under consideration.

The commissioner directed the authorities concerned to complete work within stipulated time.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2017