ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar directed that consultants should explore new/innovative technologies, and make recommendations for expediting the execution phase of the project for fulfilling the demand of water supply to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The minister expressed these views, while chairing a review meeting on feasibility and land acquisition for conduction of water from Indus Water System at Tarbela Dam to Islamabad and Rawalpindi, here in Islamabad on Thursday. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Ali Nawaz Awan, MNA Raja Khuram Nawaz, and senior officials participated in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that the CDA had awarded the consultancy contract for the water supply project, and the consultants would start work immediately. The representatives of the consultants shared their timelines with the minister, who directed that no time overrun would be allowed. He directed for weekly review of progress by the CDA and the Planning Commission to ensure that bottlenecks were removed immediately.
Asad Umar also directed that consultants should explore new/innovative technologies and make recommendations for expediting the execution phase of the project. He assured that necessary resources would be made available for early execution of the project. The minister directed that consultants would submit a draft Inception Report in a month's time for review and devising strategy for proceeding further.
The minister also held a meeting on staffing and other issues faced by educational institutes in Islamabad. Special Assistant to PM on CDA Ali Nawaz Awan, MNA Raja Khuram Nawaz, Parliamentary Secretary Wajiha Akram, secretary education, and senior officials participated in the meeting. The meeting was briefed about the current status of issues related to up-gradation of schools and provision of buses for transportation of students.
It was decided that the proposal in this regard will be submitted to the Federal Cabinet by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training within the next fortnight.
Later, Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan called on the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar to discuss priority projects of government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) portfolio. Senior officials from federal and provincial governments attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed projects of energy, infrastructure and communications, and agriculture sectors. The minister directed that project proposals may be refined and finalised to ensure their early processing. He said that the respective Joint Working Groups (JWGs) should discuss the projects, and accord them due priority.
The minister said that the federal government would continue to consult the provincial governments for prioritising various projects under the CPEC umbrella. He thanked the chief minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for proactively pursuing implementation of various projects.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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