Completion of ongoing uplift projects top priority: KP CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday said that the completion of ongoing development projects would be the top priority in the upcoming budget.

He was speaking at a consultative session to discuss development proposals for the Dera Ismail Khan Division. Under the chair of chief minister, a series of consultative meetings are underway to finalize the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP).

The meeting focused on evaluating and prioritizing proposed projects for inclusion in the upcoming ADP.

He said a major portion of the development funds would be allocated toward completing these projects to ensure that the public can benefit from them without delay. He noted that projects with at least 80percen completion would be finalised next year, and large-scale projects meeting widespread public needs would be prioritised for inclusion in the new ADP.

The chief minister stated that the ADP’s 13-year throw-forward has been reduced to seven years and will be further trimmed in the coming fiscal year.

He said that a record-breaking 550 development schemes were completed during the current fiscal year and over 600 schemes were expected to be completed in the next year.

“There is no shortage of funds for ongoing projects,” he said, adding that the province’s financial standing was currently the best it has ever been, with Rs 150 billion securely held in the endowment fund. Gandapur urged the elected representatives to propose projects that would benefit large segments of the population. He reiterated that health and education remain priority sectors, with plans to increase investment in these areas in the coming year. Where needed, he said, schools and colleges would be opened in rented buildings, and steps will be taken to ensure round-the-clock availability of services at existing health centers.

“We are prioritising the delivery of services and facilities over mere infrastructure development,” the chief minister concluded.