Different provincial departments have utilized Rs106 billion on different annual development schemes (ADP) schemes and an amount of Rs183 billion have been released till January 17, 2020.
This was revealed during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, here Tuesday, to review six-monthly progress on the provincial annual development program.
The meeting was told that ADP's total volume is Rs350 billion and Rs42 billion are allocated for public-private partnership based projects. An amount of Rs183 billion has been released till January 17, 2020, and different provincial departments have utilized Rs106 billion on different ADP schemes. The P&D department has accorded approval to 85 schemes during the last 45 days.
The CM Buzdar directed to expedite work on ADP projects adding that provincial departments should get their schemes approved by January 31, 2020. Any departmental delay, in this regard, will not be tolerated, he warned. He maintained that mega projects were being started through a public-private partnership to expedite economic development besides provision of necessary facilities to the people. He directed to ensure timely utilization of ADP funds and observed that an effective monitoring system is imperative in this regard.
The CM said the ADP targets will be achieved at any cost and action will be initiated against departments failing to achieve their targets. "I want practical steps, instead of paperwork and the departments failing to timely utilize their development funds will be liable to be answerable," he said, adding: "We are public representatives and answerable to them. Idleness will not help anymore; officers should go into the field to monitor the ADP progress. The difference between the on-ground situation and file work will not be tolerated anymore."
The CM said that quality and timely completion of ADP projects should be especially focused so that the people could take maximum benefit. He also directed to expedite the pace of work on foreign-funded projects for their timely completion.
Chairman and Secretary P&D briefed about ADP funds' utilization and progress on PPP mode schemes. Advisor Salman Shah, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema MPA, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D and administrative secretaries attended the meeting.
CM said the Punjab government started working on eight new universities and five technical institutes are also being set up to empower the youth through skills-based education. Backward areas have been given preference for setting up new institutions, he added.
He said the PTI government has given priority to improving the education sector and sufficient increase has been made in the education budget as compared with the previous financial year.
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