KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the Planning and Development (P&D) Department is the main organisation for formulation of Annual Development Programme (ADP), evolving economic policy and research, monitoring of schemes and execution of projects. He was presiding over a high-level meeting of the P&D Department here on Wednesday. He said the provincial government had already declared the financial year 2011-12 as a ‘year of development’, as such emphasis was being laid to complete the ongoing schemes early, take up and initiate new schemes for the benefit and welfare of masses. The CM said the department made regular review of physical and financial progress of development schemes and executed MPAs priority programme together with foreign trainings of foreign aid with loans and grants etc.
He stressed the need to expedite the development schemes and improve the performance of department. He also directed the heads of administrative departments to initiate and accelerate their performance in connection with pace of development schemes and do the needful as early as possible. The CM directed that those schemes, which had been completed up to 55 percent, should be completed as early as possible. He said this year Rs 40 million were being allocated for each MPA to execute development schemes in their respective areas. He emphasised that in view of maternal cases, particularly in rural areas, schemes of mother and childcare centre would be initiated, for which Rs 5 million would be spent from allocation of each MPA.
Shah stressed upon officers of P&D department to sign agreements with foreign funded agencies for schemes having solar energy components and for saving energy, while solar system schools would be established. The CM also stressed the need to pay attention towards provision of schemes of drainage, roads, streetlights etc in Qasimabad, and also the problems of Lyari be solved on priority basis. Shah said that schemes being executed by various district governments were of low quality and proper specifications had not been followed. He directed the P&D department to properly monitor the departmental schemes and increase substandard works while the matter be referred to Anti-Corruption Department for thorough enquiry and necessary action.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Muhammad Ishaque Lashari in his detailed presentation informed that there was ADP allocation of Rs 131 billion for Sindh province while last year the revised ADP allocation was Rs 95 billion. The meeting was informed that the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, European Union, USAID, Japan Social Development Fund, Japan International Cooperation Agency, UNICEF and Italian Debt Swap Agreement have funded many schemes in various sectors.
