Punab: Third party audit must for uplift projects: CM

[Naveed Yaseen]

MANY important decisions were taken for accelerating implementation and timely completion of development projects and curbing corruption at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

The meeting was held to review Annual Development Programme at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here.

The meeting lasted more than four hours. It was decided in it that third party audit system would be implemented with regard to all development projects for ensuring utilisation of development funds in a transparent manner.

Similarly, an effective system will be evolved for eliminating corruption mafia and irregularities and the committee set up for this purpose will submit its report within four weeks. It was further decided that pilot projects would be started for the construction of multi-storey buildings in Katchi Abadis in all divisional headquarters. Moreover, services of private consultants will be acquired for quality completion of development projects while foreign consultants will be hired for specific projects. It was also decided to do away with PC-I for early execution of development projects. The meeting also constituted a high level committee for obtaining additional funds for development projects. The committee will submit its recommendations within a week.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that all resources were being utilised for rapid development of the province and provision of basic amenities to the masses. He said that Rs 175 billion has been allocated this year for development schemes under Annual Development Programme. He said that besides timely and quality completion of development projects, utilisation of every rupee of public money in a transparent manner was being ensured. He said that criminal negligence was shown in the execution of development projects during the last government due to which additional expenditure of billions of rupees was being borne by the government. He said that Asian Development Bank has withdrawn Rs 8 billion funds due to delay in development schemes and there was not a single project in this period which was completed within the timeframe. He said that billions of rupees were wasted due to the collusion of contractors and Communication & Works Department and corruption was also promoted. He said that the third party audit system would be compulsory for all development schemes and no payment would be made to any contractor without it. He said that the department which violated these orders would be held accountable. He said that a new trend of service to the country and the people would be introduced by the present government. He directed that services of private consultants should be acquired for early and timely completion of development projects while those of foreign consultants be obtained for projects like hospitals. He said that during the monthly meetings to review Annual Development Programme, not only the pace of implementation of major projects would be considered but all departments would give details of the funds released for the development schemes and their utilisation. He said that it would be compulsory for the government departments to hold meetings to be presided over by provincial ministers twice a month to review uplift schemes under Annual Development Programme. He directed that a comprehensive system should be adopted for the maintenance of water supply schemes under Public Health Department so that provision of potable water to the people could be ensured. He said that MPAs should use the funds given to them under MPAs’ Package for all other projects except education vital for their respective areas. He directed Additional Chief Secretary to form a committee for curbing activities of commission mafia and rooting out corruption in development projects. The committee will submit its recommendations within four weeks. He said that prosperity of the province was linked to the promotion of agriculture and livestock sectors; therefore, special meetings would be held after every three months for reviewing the measures taken for the uplift of these sectors. The chief minister said that development projects worth 135 billion rupees have been initiated in southern Punjab. He also gave instructions to add four more districts to 11 districts to be covered under the Southern Punjab Package and to give a detailed briefing for IT Park Project at Ferozepur Road.

Expressing his views regarding purchase of new cars by officers, the Shahbaz Sharif said that in an era of price-hike where even basic necessities as food, medicines, pure water and other facilities were not available to the common man, the officers would have to change their lifestyle otherwise they would face strong reaction from the masses. He said that there was a need for promoting the culture of austerity and utilisation of maximum funds for the welfare of the poor. Therefore, he said, government was spending a huge sum of eight billion rupees for the provision of Sasta atta to the deserving people under the Ramazan Package. He said that permission for the purchase of new vehicles and furniture cannot be granted, however, in extreme needs new vehicles could be purchased by selling the old ones. He directed to constitute a committee for this purpose.

Earlier, Chairman Planning & Development while giving a detailed briefing regarding uplift schemes under Annual Development Programme, informed that 98 per cent schemes for the current financial year have been approved which was a record. Secretary Finance gave details of funds issued for different projects.

Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Minister for Finance Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Provincial Minister for Local Government Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies, Additional Chief Secretary and Secretaries of concerned departments participated the meeting.

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