ISLAMABAD, May 31: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed finance and planning ministries to allocate more funds for communication sector so that far-flung areas could be connected with main highways through arteries and terrestrial road-links.

A statement issued here said that the prime minister gave the directives during a meeting on Monday to review the allocations for different sectors under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

He said Indus Highway should be completed on priority basis and funds should be allocated for it. The prime minister said Pakistan Railways should be made efficient to provide safe and quick mode of journey to the people.

The meeting was informed that an amount of Rs6.7 billion was allocated under the last year's PSDP. With a view to gear up the process of development, the government would allocate ample funds to districts under the PSDP for the new fiscal year.

It was decided that the departments should be authorised to spend the funds during the new fiscal year which could not be utilised during the current financial year.

The unspent development funds allocated during the last year should not be declared lapsed and be utilised during the next fiscal year. Mr Jamali said that a strict monitoring of utilisation of funds and progress of development projects was needed.

The planning commission should keep a close vigil on the progress of development projects, he added. The prime minister emphasized that utilization of funds on any development scheme should be transparent and financial discipline should be maintained.

He directed the finance and planning ministries to review on quarterly basis the progress with the secretaries of ministries concerned. He said that funds be allocated to introduce and popularize alternate energy resources so that people could get cheap energy, because it would also help promote cottage industry.