HYDERABAD, Jan 3: Progress of work on about 100 ongoing development schemes of the annual development programme 2004-05 undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs2843.465 million in the district was discussed in a meeting chaired by the additional chief secretary development, Mr Ghulam Sarwar Khehro, here on Monday.

They include 24 schemes of physical planning and housing, 38 of rural development (farm to market roads), 31 of the education sector, four of the health department and one each of culture and tourism.

The meeting also discussed abandoned and those schemes which were being carried out by the citizen community board. Expressing dissatisfaction over the utilization of released amount for development schemes, the additional chief secretary development said Rs135.619 million had been released for the implementation of ongoing development schemes during the current financial year but only 42.2 per cent of total released funds had been utilized.

He directed the officers of the executing agencies to accelerate the pace of development work and ensure that all the works earmarked for the current financial year were completed within the stipulated time frame.

Attaching importance to public participation in development works, the additional chief secretary said the Sindh government was encouraging participatory approach to ensure sustainable development in the province.

He directed the officers concerned to complete their schemes with public participation. He said while executing schemes, earthquake proof techniques should also be considered with qualitative work in all respects. The DCO Hyderabad and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

ADMISSION: The principal of the government technical training centre Kotri has announced that the date for admission to various courses has been extended till Jan 15.