CM for efficient utilisation of uplift funds

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has stressed the need for efficient utilisation of available funds and effective monitoring to complete the uplift projects within the stipulated time.

He issued these directives while receiving a briefing on the foreign-funded projects at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday, said a handout.Administrative secretaries of various departments and heads of different foreign-assisted projects attended the briefing.

Sahibzada Saeed, chairman, Strategic Support Unit, in his briefing said that 54 foreign-assisted projects, including 51 grant and three loan-based projects in 14 different sectors, existed in the province with a total cost of Rs197.470 million.

The participants were informed that among the 54 projects 17 were multi-sector, six health, five roads infrastructure , five education, two local government, eight peace and security, two agriculture, three industries while one each in energy, forestry, justice, sports and social welfare sectors projects.

The meeting was informed that 25 of the foreign-funded projects would be completed in current financial year, while 12 more would be completed in the next fiscal. The chief minister took notice of the slow progress of various projects and directed to adopt proper strategy to gear up work on these schemes.

He also urged the organisers of the projects to be well aware of the relevant rules and procedure to be able to execute and monitor the schemes in a proper manner. Taking notice of the complaints about the Municipal Service Development Project, Pervez Khattak directed replacement of the project director with a technical expert immediately.

He also ordered putting up a summary for acquisition of the land for the Solid Waste Management Project.Pervez Khattak also directed speeding up shifting of bus terminal out of the city and initiating designing work of a commercial centre at the existing state of the bus terminal.

In order to make implementation process of the projects quick and ensure its completion within due time, continuous monitoring, close coordination among various departments and liaison with the donor agencies was recommended.