A series of consultative meetings of all provincial departments chaired by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Mahmood Khan has been completed to finalize the annual development program. The three-day consultative meetings reviewed the proposed annual development program of all the departments separately. Apart from Ministers of Provincial Departments, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, and Administrative Secretaries of Provincial Departments, concerned officials of the Department of Planning and Development and Finance also attended the meetings.
In these consultative meetings, after reviewing in detail the total cost of proposed development projects of all departments and other matters for inclusion in the next Provincial Annual Development Program including Accelerated Implementation Program for Integrated Districts, these proposed projects are included in the Annual Development Program. The allocation of funds for them in the new development budget was also finalized with some necessary modifications. In these consultative meetings, in addition to the proposed new projects to be included in the next annual development program, important decisions were taken in this regard after careful consideration of the allocation of funds for ongoing development projects and other issues.
The Chief Minister said that the completion of ongoing development projects in the province and especially near completion projects was the top priority of his government and that most of the development budget should be allocated for the completion of ongoing development projects so that the completion of these projects in the next two years is ensured and the people can benefit from the fruits of these development projects without delay. He said that new development projects based on the needs of the people would also be included in the next annual development program. He said that the next annual development program would include projects that would have a direct and immediate positive impact on the lives of the people, with a special focus on education and health. However, no sector will be overlooked. The Chief Minister said that despite the difficult financial situation due to the Corona pandemic, no compromise would be made on development works and public welfare projects and the new budget would try to provide maximum relief to the common man. The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities that the next annual development program should be realistic, in line with the objective conditions of the province and the needs of the people in all respects.
Regarding the priority sectors of the provincial government for the next annual development program, it was informed that health, education, tourism, energy, water resources, agriculture, housing, drinking water, industry, urban development, and communication are the priority sectors of the provincial government. Billions of rupees will be allocated for the projects.
