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Lahore: Minister for Planning & Development / Deputy
Chairman Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal has said that billions are wasted through poor planning of projects .While presiding over a Meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) Ahsan Iqbal directed all the departments to exercise due diligence in preparing of projects and stakeholders consultation must be done prior to submission of projects.he directed to set criteria in every project i.e. what were tangible outcome and what that project delivered to the state. He further ordered to strictly follow merit while recruiting human resource in projects.
The meeting was attended by the sponsoring agencies and the representatives from Provincial Governments and Special Areas. The Minister welcomed the participants to the first CDWP meeting of the financial year 2013-14.
CDWP is authorized to approve projects costing upto Rs.1.0 billion.Projects costing over Rs.1.0 billion are to be approved by ECNEC. Five projects costing Rs.104 billion, each costing over Rs.1.0 billion, were recommended by CDWP to ECNEC for consideration/ approval. CDWP approved / recommended 9 projects costing Rs.74 billion.
present government is committed to implement important power sector
projects on priority. Two (2) projects related to Energy Sector
costing Rs 61 billion “Interconnection of Chashma -3 (C3) and
Chashma-4 (C4) Nuclear Power Plants” with objective to install
transmission line for dispersal of 630 MW net power from two new
projects C3 & C4 into national grid “Combined Cycle Power Plant
Nandipur” was also approved having generation capacity of 425 to 525
MW power generation capacity. The cost of the project has increased
from Rs 22 billion to Rs 57 billion owing to minsmanagement of
previous government. Sharmai Hydro Power Project having power
generation capacity of 150 MW was also discussed. The CDWP formulated
the committee under the Chairmanship of Member (I&M), Planning
Commission to review the cost of the project to be implemented on PPP
mode.Transport & Communication: A project titled “Up-gradation of Security
Infrastructure / Equipment at Major Airports in Pakistan (JICA
Assisted)” was recommended by CDWP with grant-in-aid of Rs 1605
million from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The
objective of the project is to ensure security at the major airports
of the country compatible with state-of-the-art technology set by the
International community at various international airports. The project
envisages provision / installation of Explosive Detection Scanning
System and vehicle cargo scanning system. Minister directed that a
certificate should be obtained from the suppliers that radiation from
equipment meet international safety standards. Reduction in size of
Lahore Airport by military regime of Musharraf claiming to have saved
Rs.3 billion would now cost exchequer Rs.12 billion to meet the
present demand.Agriculture Sector: A project “Punjab Economic Opportunities
Programme” costing Rs 8.2 billion including foreign assistance of Rs
4.5 billion from Department for International Development from UK has
been recommended by CDWP to ECNEC for consideration. The project has
four components i.e. Programme Coordination Unit, Punjab Skills
Development Funds (PSDP), Livestock Component and Technical
Cooperation. The project aims to develop a competitive market for
training provision, support marginalized regions through policy,
direct interventions at the grass root level, skill development
strategy employment – intensive growth to alleviate poverty. The
project has been revised due to its extension from four Southern
Punjab Districts to all over Punjab with certain modifications in the
project. Project is to be financed by Government of the Punjab through
its ADP.
A project “Sustainable Livestock Development for Rural Sindh” costing
Rs 878 million was also approved. This project will be funded with
grant of Rs 702 million from Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA). The project is to be financed by Government of Sindh through
its ADP.
Other projects discussed by CDWP include “Water Supply Scheme for Hub
Industrial & Trading Estate, Phase-II, (Extension) (Revised)” costing
Rs 373 million, “In Country Training and Provision of Equipment for
Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and
Management Sciences (BUITEMS) (JICA Funded)” costing Rs 212 million
and “Federal Government DATA Centre and Internet” costing Rs 729
million, “Capacity Building of Technical Teachers of Technical &
Vocational Training Centers in Malakand Division at Peshawar and Ghazi
– Haripur (JICA Assisted)” costing Rs 251 million.
CDWP also approved five lanes each side for Kashmir Highway from
Peshawar Mor to G.T Road (including construction of new bridges for
the additional carriageway)”. The federal Government would provide 50%
of the cost of the project. CDA was directed to complete the project
at the shortest possible time. Mr Ahsan Iqbal directed that commercial
area along Kashmir Highway should be developed to generate funds and
the development should be environment friendly. He directed that
rail/metro bus link provision from new airport to Islamabad should
also be made. He asked chairman CDA to hold an inquiry into 500
missing computers given to CDA for computerization of the department
and submit a report on action taken against culprits.
