LAHORE, May 7: Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) approved on Tuesday a new administrative set up for the Communications and Works Department, permitting the establishment of a directorate of private investment.

The new structure has been devised in view of the handing over of nearly three fourths of the provincial roads and public buildings to districts governments under the devolution plan.

The governor approved the restructuring at a meeting at the Civil Secretariat.

The meeting was informed that after the restructuring, the provincial secretariat of the department would construct and repair government buildings and inter-district roads according to ISO 9000 quality standards.

The Directorate of Private Investment would operate on a no profit no loss basis like a public limited company. Its board of directors would include government officials and representatives of Chambers of Commerce and associations of road users and goods transporters.

Communications Minister Maj-Gen Muhammad Tariq (retired) said the Dedicated Road Maintenance Fund would also be utilized under the DPI supervision.

The governor said after the establishment of the district governments, development schemes costing Rs500 million to Rs600 million were being implemented under the supervision of elected representatives of the people.

He said appointment of executive district officers (Works and Services) in all districts had become necessary to ensure quality and timely completion of development projects.

The governor approved the establishment of the District Support and Monitoring Cell in the department under a chief engineer to provide technical assistance to those concerned besides supervising development projects. He said composite inspection teams, comprising independent communication and finance experts, would be sent to the districts to evaluate the development schemes and submit reports to the governor within 15 days.

The governor said after the restructuring authorized officers of the department would continue to have powers to write annual reports of engineers working in the district governments.

He also approved the establishment of the Research and Development Department within the Communications Department. The Directorates of Material Testing and Road Research and Information Technology and the Building Research Station would work under it.

The governor asked public sector architects to design low cost schools, hospitals, police stations and other government buildings, reflecting local traditions. “We do not want to waste government funds on Taj Mahals and White Houses,” he said.

The meeting also considered proposals by Finance Minister Tariq Hameed, chief secretary Imtiaz Masrur, Planning and Development Board chairman Muhammad Akram Malik, governor’s principal secretary Tariq Mahmood and secretaries of the departments concerned.

The Communications and Works Department secretary informed the meeting about negotiations with private firms interested in constructing the Lahore-Kasur dual-carriageway on build operate and transfer basis. He also gave proposals regarding a career planning system for engineers in government service.