LAHORE: All departments should work hard for transparent and timely utilization of development budget and officers must bear this in mind that unnecessary delay in completion of projects would not be tolerated at any cost.
Punjab Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal issued the instructions a meeting held in the P&D Department to review implementation of the annual development program (ADP).
The CS said that it is necessary to achieve the monthly targets related to the utilization of funds for development projects. He stressed that the timeframe from initiation to the completion of the schemes must be followed, adding that the allocated funds should not lapse in any case.
Mr Sumbal issued orders to the departments to take immediate steps for getting approval for the unapproved schemes, saying that the progress in the implementation of the annual development program would be reviewed on regular basis. He said that the P&D Department must be informed in case of any roadblocks in the execution of uplift schemes. He also asked the departments to enhance coordination with the P&D Board members for progress on delayed schemes.
The P&D Department officials gave a detailed briefing to the participants about the allocated development budget, release, and utilization of funds. The meeting was told that 4556 out of 4992 schemes have been approved and Rs334 billion have been released out of the allocated funds of Rs685 billion. The Additional Chief Secretary (South Punjab) and secretaries of all departments participated in the meeting.
