Govt to focus on energy, jobs, development: PM Ashraf
06 July, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday said that energy and water, balanced regional development, poverty reduction and job creation should be the development strategy during 2012-13. He was addressing a meeting on development programmes, held on Thursday at the Prime Minister's House. Raja also gave directions to the Planning Commission for early completion of the ongoing projects nearing completion and those carrying high social impact. He emphasised that projects like Chashma Right Bank Canal, Kachhi Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Quetta Water Supply project, Layari Expressway, Ratodero-Gwadar road, Lawari Tunnel and Munda Dam should be given priority because of their enormous importance and impact on agriculture, energy sector and connectivity, and their huge potential of boosting agro-based industries throughout the country. The finance minister said the size of the last year's PSDP was Rs 300 billion and that more than 200 projects were completed with 100 percent utilisation of the allocated funds. The size of the current PSDP was Rs 360 billion and the development projects would be executed in the light of the vision of the prime minister, he added. The minister said that major projects which were near completion were Mangla Dam Raising project, Gomal Zam Dam, Chashma Nuclear Power Plant, Jinnah Hydropower project, Gwadar-Hoshab-Ratodero road, Lawari Tunnel, and those pertaining to the Balochistan Constabulary. In order to ensure early completion of the ongoing projects, it was decided in the meeting that the executing agencies would submit reports to the Planning Commission every month regarding progress on the projects in hand. It was also decided that the operationalisation of the completed projects should be clearly stated with a view to ascertain their efficiency and sustainability. The meeting also decided that a coordination mechanism among the ministries concerned should be evolved to ascertain the cost-effectiveness of projects. End.
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