ISLAMABAD, April 8: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Rural Development has recommended that Wapda should implement electrification schemes specified by MNAs in their constituencies within 60 days of the receipt of funds.

According to a press release, the recommendation was made in the committee’s meeting held in the Parliament House on Friday. The meeting was presided over by Maulana Hamidul Haqqani which discussed the execution of various electrification projects.

The committee criticized the procedure adopted by Wapda for execution of schemes and recommended that electrification should be carried out in one go and not in phases.

Moreover, the requirement of area for supply of load may be given due consideration to ensure proper supply of electricity. The committee also recommended that Wapda might reduce charges of electricity poles to be used for the schemes proposed by parliamentarians.

On a complaint pertaining to delay in the release of funds by the Auditor General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) to the executing agencies, the meeting was informed that the AGPR took only eight days to process the allocation of funds and release payments to the executing agencies. It was also informed that the AGPR took only five days on an average to process such bills.

Minister of State for Local Government Zafar Iqbal Warraich said the projects were generally delayed at the stage of execution as they had to take into consideration the ground situation as well.