LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar expressed on Tuesday displeasure over some departments for not timely utilizing the released funds.

A high level meeting, presided over by Mr Buzdar, reviewed progress made during past three months on the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and foreign funded projects.

Mr Buzdar directed the participants to ensure the timely utilization of funds within the stipulated time-frame. He said that work should be started on development schemes till October 15 after getting approval. He said that sluggishness in getting approval of development schemes was intolerable. He said that increasing the capacity of department was necessary as there was no reason for delay in development projects.

He said that pace on work of foreign funded projects should be accelerated besides ensuring their timely completion. Issued should be resolved at the earliest and subsequently move ahead. He said that he was not satisfied over the performance of some government departments. He said that pending affairs should be resolved as early as possible. The chief minister while calling the meeting after seven days said that he would review the progress on the ADP and foreign funded projects on a weekly basis. Matters will not be carried out in such a manner. Departments will have to ensure timely completion of welfare projects.

The chief minister learned the Finance Department had released Rs98 billion under the ADP. The secretary of planning and development briefed the meeting regarding progress on the ADP and foreign funded projects.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2019