PM for timely release of PSDP funds

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Planning, Development and Reform Division and Finance Division to chalk out a mutually agreeable course for release of development funds under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the remaining period of the current financial year and ensure its compliance thereafter.
The prime minister recalled that in a meeting about the PSDP, the Finance Division had agreed in principle to enhance the quarterly limits in line with the proposal of the Planning Development & Reform Division with a view to ensure the efficiency in public spending and safeguarding against late releases in the third and fourth quarter which not only affects the pace of implementation of the projects but also results in back-loading of expenditure in the financial year.
Since implementation of the PSDP in an efficient and transparent manner is a key target of the government, efforts have to be made to ensure maximum releases in line with the requirements of the PD&R Division. However, it would be important that while doing so the PD&R shall continuously monitor the utilization of the available resources and the pace of the implementation without the money getting stuck in the projects where implementation is slow for any reason. The demand and allocation for funds should, therefore, be based on the priority assigned on sectoral basis without compromising the key principle of regional equity that was agreed at the time of formulation of the PSDP.
Later, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Alturki, called on the prime minister at PM House. Nawaz appreciated the World Muslim League’s role for the cause of Muslim countries. He said that there is a lot of scope for the Muslim world to cooperate in the areas of trade and commerce. He said that Pakistan enjoys good brotherly relations with all the Muslim countries and the government is ready to extend every possible support for the collective benefit of the Muslim World League.
Abdullah appreciated the vision of the prime minister and said that Pakistan’s role in promoting cooperation amongst the members of Muslim World League is of immense importance.Meanwhile, president of the Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan had a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House and exchanged views on political and security situation in the country.
According to sources, the ANP leader particularly discussed the political and law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also impressed upon the prime minister to complete the western route of the CPEC on priority basis as that would remove a sense of alienation among the people of the backward areas.