ISLAMABAD: In a bold move to confront the entrenched delays plaguing critical development projects, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a sweeping overhaul, directing the swift formulation of a comprehensive strategy to reform and streamline every stage of the development projects.
Emphasising the urgency of ensuring timely and transparent completion, he said that he would personally lead a steering committee dedicated to overseeing these reforms, which will include both federal and provincial stakeholders.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the timely completion of development projects, the prime minister underscored that the timely completion of key national projects remains a top priority of his government.
He expressed his gratitude towards international partners, particularly the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, for their ongoing support in facilitating these much-needed reforms within the country’s development framework.
The prime minister’s directive comes in response to a briefing by government officials, who pointed to several systemic bottlenecks hindering progress.
One of the most significant issues identified was the slow pace of procurement, which has been directly linked to delays in project timelines.
Rs330.43bn authorised for uplift projects under PSDP
The officials recommended that the implementation of e-procurement systems and project readiness facilities could significantly streamline the procurement process and expedite the completion of projects.
Moreover, the briefing highlighted the importance of aligning human resources with project goals to ensure that key personnel are fully equipped to meet the targets set out by both the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and the Annual Development Plan (ADP).
It was noted that inefficiencies in aligning human resources and administrative efforts with project goals have also contributed to delays.
In response to these challenges, the prime minister called for the creation of four specialised working groups, each tasked with addressing specific areas of reform.
The first group will focus on overhauling the approval process and improving the preparation stages of development projects.
The second group will be charged with modernising procurement practices, with an emphasis on digital tools and systems to speed up the entire process.
The third working group will address critical issues surrounding land acquisition and resettlement, a frequent source of delay in large infrastructure projects.
The fourth and final group will be dedicated to reforms in human resources, specifically focusing on the optimal deployment and management of staff working on development initiatives.
In addition to the presence of key government ministers, the meeting was attended by country representatives of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, who presented their recommendations for streamlining the development process.
Among the participants were Federal Ministers for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Climate Change Musadik Malik, Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Power Division Awais Leghari, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik, and others.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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