ISLAMABAD: Minister for Communications Murad Saeed here on Sunday reiterated the government resolve for bringing transparency, efficiency, maintaining standards and quality in mega infrastructure development projects and ensured their completion with in given time frame to make them cost effective.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that Ministry of Communications had decided to introduce e-tendering, and e-billing system with in 60 days in order to bring the transparency and accountability across the board as according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to eradicate the menace of corruption from the country.
The minister said that it was also decided to conduct 3rd party audit of six mega development projects in first phase, adding that the cost of these projects had witnessed unprecedented increase and dented in the national exchequers in tune of billion of rupees.
Murad Saeed said that another 34 projects, which had witnessed increase in their cost due to delay in the work and completion with in the given time frame, adding that the reasons behind the delay in these projects would be determined and the responsibilities to be fixed. In order to implement the Prime Minister's austerity drive,the Ministry of Communications would auction all its 42 luxury vehicles alongwith 177 others, which were used by the high officials of the ministry and would save Rs. 30 million used for the maintenance of these vehicles.
The minister further informed that the auction process of these luxury vehicles would be completed with in a week, besides opening the two guest houses for general public as a tourist resort after up grading these places in collaboration with the private sector on build, operate and transfer basis (BOT).
He said that the lake in front of these guest houses would also be used for the promotion of water sports and revenue generation, adding that anti-encroachment campaign would also be launched to free the properties and land of National Highways and Motor Way.
The minister said that his ministry would also contribute in Prime Minister's billion tree programme in collaboration with other stakeholders, adding that special measures would also be put on place to ensure the survival of these trees. He said that survival audit would also be conducted for these plants.
The minister said that in future the developmental projects would be initiated on BOT and public private partnership mode keeping focus on the agriculture development, tourism promotion and ensuring environmental protection.
The Communications' minster further revealed that initiation of the development projects would help to provide job opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workforce in the country which would also help in fulfilling the PM's 10 million job creation vision.
Murad Saeed informed that the ministry is also launching mobile application (app) within 45 days,which would provide the details of the projects including their cost and time of completion and amount released for the projects in order to ensure transparency, enhance sense of ownership by the general public.
The NHA would also launch another mobile phone application 'Pasban', which would keep updated the road users about the weather and road conditions across the country to facilitate the passengers as well as make their journey more safe and square.
He said that NHA had also working in two development projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, adding that their completion with in the given time would be ensured by maintaining the quality of the work.
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