KARACHI, Oct 18: All projects of the Khushal Pakistan Programme, costing Rs1800 million, must be completed before mid-November this year.

This was decided at a meeting presided over by Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Javed Ashraf Hussain in which progress of development projects was reviewed.

In all, 150 projects worth Rs 506 million were initiated in Karachi under the KPP. Out of these, 15 projects have already been completed which include pumping station and renovation of roundabout at Board Office, pumping station and renovation of roundabout at Water Pump, sewerage network at Adam Khan Road, road networks in Khasta Barohi Road and North Karachi Industrial Area.

The meeting also decided that pace of proceedings in cases against inefficient and corrupt officers and those inducted in violation of merit and rules be expedited by ensuring that show-cause notices are served on officials.

The meting also discussed important administrative matters, including cases under E & D Rules / Removal from Service Ordinance and under Sindh Civil Servants Act 1973 and absorption of surplus employees.

The meeting, which was attended by all the administrative secretaries and District Coordination Officers, also took decisions in the light of the directives of chief executive and the governor.

Under the KPP programme, the district governments, headed by Nazims, are responsible for identifying, executing and supervising the schemes while DCOs as project directors are responsible for monitoring and ensuring quality of work.

Reviewing the progress of KPP-II, the chief secretary expressed satisfaction on the over-all progress of most of the on- going projects in various districts. He also directed the DCOs to ensure that the projects are completed on the cut-off date and also to identify development schemes to be included in the third phase on priority basis.

Discussing the Annual Development Programme 2001-02 with total outlay of Rs 5.75 billion, the chief secretary expressed his displeasure that progress on the ADP projects was not upto the mark as some of the departments had under-utilised the fund earmarked for the projects. He asked the planning and development department to improve their monitoring system so that those responsible for delays could be identified.

The chief secretary, highlighting the importance of Food Support Programme, costing Rs 260 million, lauded the task completed in most of the districts. He directed the DCOs to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are reached before Nov 15.

The meeting also discussed the progress on cases against inefficient/ corrupt officers which was not satisfactory. The CS stressed the need for accelerating the proceedings against corrupt and inefficient officers.

Reviewing the disciplinary action against those inducted in violation of merit and rules, the chief secretary asked all administrative secretaries to accelerate the pace of proceedings under Removal from Service (Special Powers) Sindh Ordinance 2001 and to ensure that show cause notices were served on the officers during this week.

Regarding the issue of absorption of the employees, declared surplus, the chief secretary asked the officials that the lists of surplus employees be circulated amongst all the administrative secretaries and the DCOs so that they could absorb suitable employees against available vacancies. He also directed the absorption committee, earlier constituted for the purpose in Services and General Administration Department, to expedite the process.

The participants were urged to respond expeditiously to the directives received from the Chief Executive and the governor’s secretariat. The response at times, it was observed by the chief secretary gets delayed inordinately.