Public Sector Development Programme: PM for ensuring optimal and timely utilisation of funds

Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed upon the need for ensuring optimal and timely utilization of funds allocated by the federal government under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) adding, "Planning is eyes and ears of the chief executive".

This he said while chairing a meeting to review progress on Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at PM Office Islamabad Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro bakhtiar, SAPM on Information & Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and other senior officials of the government.

The meeting was briefed that an amount of Rs 701 billion has been allocated under the PSDP during the fiscal year 2019-20 for development projects. It was informed that utmost efforts are being undertaken to eliminate delays in authorization by the Planning Commission for ensuring seamless implementation of the approved projects.

The meeting was briefed on the detailed report prepared to assess the utilization of the First Quarter releases by various ministries and divisions. It was apprised that powers have been given to the Principal Accounting Officers (Secretaries of the Ministries) for the release of funds for projects amounting less than Rs two billion to expedite progress on projects allocated to different ministries.

Imran Khan while expressing concern over the under utilization of funds by various ministries and divisions instructed the Planning Commission to come up with a monthly performance review report so as to determine the reasons behind the under utilization of the funds allocated for the vital Public Sector Development programme. The prime minister stressed that unless all the Public Sector Development programmes are executed timely, the wheels of the economy cannot be turned.

The meeting also reviewed in detail the release of funds to various corporations and authorities, and satisfactory results of the block allocations to AJ&K and Gilgit-Baltistan. It was informed that an elaborate exercise has been carried out by the Planning Commission to extend support and facilitation to CDWP and ECNEC projects.

During the current fiscal year, a total of 170 projects will be completed out of which 38 are mega projects. A specific monitoring and evaluation set-up is being established at the Planning Commission to ensure completion of all these projects within the timelines, the participants were briefed.

The prime minister stated that policies need to be well thought out and harmonized to yield desired results. He stressed to enhance coordination among the ministries for early and effective completion of the projects.

He also directed that focus should be on those ministries which are executing development projects as this would facilitate job creation and counter unemployment. Economic development would ensure better opportunities for the youth of the country, he concluded.