LAHORE: Various departments have spent Rs106 billion out of the Rs183bn released by the provincial government till Jan 17 from the Rs350bn Annual Development Plan outlay, an ADP review meeting was told here on Tuesday.

Chaired by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, the meeting was also informed that in addition to Rs350bn, an amount of Rs42bn has been allocated for public-private partnership projects. The P&D department has accorded approval to 85 schemes during the last 45 days.

The chief minister directed to expedite work on ADP projects adding that the provincial departments should get their schemes approved by the end of this month. Any departmental delay, in this regard, would not be tolerated, he warned.

The chief minister maintained that mega projects were being started through a public-private partnership to expedite economic development besides provision of necessary facilities to the people. He directed to ensure timely utilisation of ADP funds and observed that an effective monitoring system is imperative in this regard. ADP targets will be achieved at any cost and action will be initiated against departments failing to achieve their targets.

“I want practical steps, instead of paperwork and the departments failing to timely utilise their development funds will liable to be answerable. We are public representatives and answerable to them. Idleness will not help anymore; officers should go into the field to monitor the ADP progress. The difference between the on-ground situation and file work will not be tolerated anymore and I will review progress every month,” he stated.

The chief minister said quality and timely completion of ADP projects should be especially focused so that the people could take maximum benefit. The departments should ensure correct and timely utilisation of funds and any laziness is not acceptable in this regard. The chief minister also directed to expedite the pace of work on foreign-funded projects for their timely completion.

The P&D chairman briefed the meeting about ADP funds utilisation and progress on PPP mode schemes. Adviser Salman Shah, MPA Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, the chief secretary and administrative secretaries attended the meeting.

CONDOLENCE: The chief minister expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the death of retired Lt-Gen Rahat Latif. In a condolence message, he extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2020