KARACHI, May 29: An amount of Rs267.894 million has been spent on 140 schemes of road and building sectors in Sindh under the Annual Development Programme 2002-03.

This was acknowledged at a meeting to review the progress on development schemes initiated under the ADP 2001-02 and 2002-03 in these sectors. The meeting was chaired by the provincial Minister for Works and Services, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim at his office on Thursday.

The minister impressed upon the concerned officers to ensure timely completion of all development schemes and put in all out efforts to utilize the funds properly before June 30 in all public-oriented schemes.

Dr Rahim stressed that early execution and timely completion of the proposed schemes under the next financial year be ensured.

He issued directives for the installation of signboards or reflectors as caution for speed-breakers, culverts, bypass, etc. so as to prevent accidents.

The chief engineer (highways) informed the meeting that during the current financial year, 33 schemes pertaining to improvement and 41 for construction were executed besides four general, one each pertaining to bridge construction master plan. An amount of Rs367.555 million were allocated for these schemes out of which Rs199.069 million were utilized up to April, he added. Work on the construction of 80kms roads and improvement of 114kms existing roads is in process. Out of Rs112 million allocated under Maintenance and Repair Programme, Rs77.609 million were incurred up to April 30.

He further informed the meeting that under the ADP 2003-04, an amount of Rs81.755 million were earmarked which include Rs527.825 million for 80 ongoing schemes and Rs253.930 million for 55 new schemes of different categories.

The chief engineer (building) told the meeting that development work in building sector had been carried out on 97 different schemes during last year. Out of them, he added, 36 schemes had already been completed.

During 2002-03, a total of 60 schemes costing Rs109.963 million were executed out. Out of the amount, Rs68.825 million were incurred up to April this year.

Secretary Works and Services Department Ashfaque Ahmed Memon also briefed the meeting about steps being taken to streamline the departmental structure, financial correspondence with particular reference to the removal of bottlenecks and timely approval of the schemes from concerned quarters.

The meeting was attended by all chief engineers, superintending engineers, chiefs of foreign aided projects and concerned officers of the department.

—APP