Smart Integrated City Control Centre Nankana Sahib: Punjab government approves supplementary grant

The Punjab government on Tuesday approved the supplementary grant for the Smart Integrated City Control Centre for district Nanakana Sahib besides lifting ban on hiring the technical cadre officials in special branch.

The approval was given in the 23rd meeting of Standing Committee of Cabinet for Finance chaired by Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakhat and it was attended by Punjab Industry and Commerce Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Advisor to Chief Minister Dr Salman Shah, Punjab Chief Secretary Azam Suleman, Planning and Development Chairman Hamid Yaqood Sheikh and other officials of departments concern.

The meeting also approved the sharing of fisheries department in accordance with the KP in Mianwali Chesma link canal, bypass road construction between Dajkot Samnudri to Canal Rekh Branch Dajkot, inclusion of Wazirabad Cardiology Institute in IRMNCH&N in ongoing annual development plan, construction of hostels for teachers and students in DG Khan Teaching Hospital, release of funds for Anomal Hospital Lahore, and resale of funds for maternity ambulances in the deprived areas.

The meeting orders the social welfare department to justify the appointment on vacant seats, reasons of increase of Punjab Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) cost, performance of Safe City Authority along with its overall financial plans.

On the occasion, the Finance Minister instructed the departments remain updated on increase of cost of ongoing development projects besides submit the completion time of the projects for the approval of supplementary grants. The meeting also reviewed to bring the Safe City Authority under the Punjab Home Department and conversion the safe city into smart city.

The Chief Secretary instructed the communication and works department to utilize the public-private-partnership for the construction of the big industrial and commercial areas linking roads. Later, chairing another meeting to review the annual development plan, the Finance Minister was informed that out of total Rs350 billion ADP, planning and development department approved Rs175 billion worth schemes while Rs169 billion were released by the finance department against approved schemes. However, only 53 percent was released budget was utilized.

The Chief Secretary instructed the departments to complete the district development selection committee by January 15 and Provincial Development Working Party by February 29. The Finance Minister instructed the departments to ensure the completion of the development schemes in the given timelines, remove the objections from rejected schemes and increase the pace on new development schemes.