CM wants work on development projects be expedited.

LAHORE -- Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting at his office on Tuesday to review six-month progress on the provincial annual development program.

The meeting was informed that ADP's total volume is Rs.350 billion and Rs.42 billion is allocated for public-private partnership based projects. An amount of Rs.183 billion has been released till January 17 and different provincial departments have utilized Rs.106 billion on different ADP schemes. Meanwhile, the P and D department has accorded approval to 85 schemes during the last 45 days.

The chief minister directed to expedite work on ADP projects adding that provincial departments should get their schemes approved by January 31.

'Any departmental delay, in this regard, will not be tolerated,' he warned. The chief minister maintained that mega projects were being started through a public-private partnership to expedite economic development besides provision of necessary facilities to the people. He directed to ensure timely utilization of ADP funds and observed that an effective monitoring system is imperative in this regard.

'ADP targets will be achieved at any cost and action will be initiated against departments failing to achieve their targets. I want practical steps, instead of paperwork, and the departments failing to timely utilize their development funds will be held answerable, he added, the CM said and added, 'We are public representatives and answerable to them. Idleness will not help anymore; officers should go into the field to monitor the ADP progress. The difference between the on-ground situation and file work will not be tolerated any more'. The CM vowed to review ADP progress every month.

The chief minister said that quality and timely completion of ADP projects should be especially focused so that the people could take maximum benefit out of it. He said that government departments should ensure correct and timely utilization of funds and any laziness is not acceptable in this regard.

The chief minister also directed to expedite the pace of work on foreign-funded projects for their timely completion...