A special meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Shahab Ali Shah, the Additional Chief Secretary P&D Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 10th June 2021 through a video link. The meeting was attended by members of PDWP and concerned departments. The forum considered 02 schemes pertaining to Urban Development and Multi-Sectoral Development sectors for the uplift of the province. The forum cleared 01 scheme of Urban Development sector for onward submission to the Federal Government while approved the other scheme of Multi-Sectoral Development sector at an estimated cost of Rs. 99,122.384 million.
Cleared scheme of the Urban Development sector is âKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (ADB Assisted)â. The approved scheme of the Multi-Sectoral Development sector is âBlock provision for projects to be funded from 10% oil & Gas royaltyâ.
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.
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr. Kazim Niaz was briefed on the annual development program in the Planning and Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shehab Ali Shah briefed the Chief Secretary. The meeting was also attended by Secretary P&D Amir Tareen and Special Secretary P&D Abid Wazir. The meeting reviewed in detail the total cost of the proposed development projects of all the departments and other issues for inclusion in the next Provincial Annual Development Program including the Accelerated Development Program for Integrated Districts. In addition to the proposed new projects to be included in the next annual development program, important decisions were taken in this regard after a thorough review of the progress on the ongoing development projects.
The Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of projects to protect canals and rivers from industrial waste and pollution in the proposed development projects. Apart from this, the project of garbage collection and sanitation equipment in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also discussed. The new annual development program also highlighted the importance of setting up education complexes for special people in the tribal districts as well as Plans for solar-powered irrigation projects and food and drug testing laboratories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also considered. Special attention is also being paid to education, health, communication, and infrastructure systems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the forthcoming development program. The provincial government is developing a development program that will have a direct positive impact on the people.
Additional Chief Secretary P&D, KP Shahab Ali Shah & officials of Planning and Development Department had a fruitful meeting with Resident Representative UNDP Knut Ostby today. Future development cooperation was the main focus under discussion. Tourism, youth, sports, investment opportunities, industrial zones & ADP were discussed as areas of cooperation.
Finance Minister Timur Jhagra and Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah highlighted various aspects of the provincial budget and annual development program in a post-budget press briefing and answered the questions.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has started work on a new project for beautification and uplift of markets at a cost of Rs. 5 billion for 7 integrated districts and 6 tribal sub-divisions. A Video link meeting was held on the project chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah in which Deputy Commissioners of all concerned districts participated.Under the plan, work will be done on the renovation of markets, solarization, rehabilitation of sidewalks, sewerage projects, food streets, play areas, water projects in the integrated districts. The Additional Chief Secretary directed all the Deputy Commissioners to finalize the plans in this regard. The provincial government is working on to accelerate the development projects in the integrated districts.
An introductory meeting of the ACS Shahab Ali Shah held with the World Bank Pakistan Country Director Mr. Najy Benhassine today at Planning and Development Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The meeting discussed ongoing bilateral projects & future development cooperation in different areas like Health Education Governance and Ease of doing business.Â