Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan chaired a review meeting of the first quarter of the annual development program. Apart from the concerned provincial ministers, Additional Chief Secretary KP Shahab Ali Shah, SMBR officials and Administrative Secretaries participated in the meeting.

During the first quarter, the meeting was briefed in detail on the allocation and release of funds for development projects under all departments, status of the use of the funds and other related matters. The meeting comparatively reviewed the progress on development projects during the first quarter of the last and current financial year. During the first quarter of the current financial year, the utilization rate of funds released for development projects was 38%. The utilization rate of development funds released in the first quarter of the current financial year is 425% higher than in the first quarter of the previous financial year. With the release of 100% development funds at the beginning of the current financial year, there has been a significant improvement in the utilization rate of ongoing development funds.

The development program for the current financial year includes 2280 projects worth Rs. 1713 billion. Rs 210 billion has been allocated for these projects in the current financial year’s budget. The annual development program for the current financial year includes 219 priority projects worth Rs. 331 billion which will be completed in the next two years. Rs 73 billion has been earmarked in the current budget for timely completion of these projects. The utilization rate of funds released for these priority projects during the first quarter was 42%.

Out of 458 new projects included in the current annual development program, 153 projects have so far been approved by relevant forums. During the current financial year so far 1439 monitoring reports related to development projects have been compiled. Out of these 1090 reports have received feedback from the concerned departments. During the current financial year, 670 different development projects worth Rs 170 billion are in the process of completion. Rs 60 billion has been allocated in the current budget for the completion of these projects.

Department of Transport ranks first with 74% utilization of funds released during first quarter. Road sector came second with 67% and energy sector came third with 61%. The Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the status of approval of PC-1 for new projects included in the current annual development program. CM issued deadline for all departments to get their PC-1 approved by relevant forums by the end of this month.

Annual development program will be reviewed again in December, action will be taken against relevant secretaries in case of non-approval of PC-1. The Chief Minister directed to further strengthen the Monitoring and Evaluation Cell and expand its scope for effective monitoring of development projects. In the light of monitoring reports, action should be taken against the responsible persons.

Special monitoring system should be introduced for effective monitoring of development projects in integrated districts. The needs of the most populous areas and people should be given first priority in identifying development plans in integrated districts.

The meeting will consider in detail the reforms in the contracting process of development projects. The Chief Minister decided to form a committee headed by the Provincial Finance Minister to reform the entire contracting process. The committee will submit concrete proposals in this regard for approval within 15 days. Ministers and Administrative Secretaries should hold monthly meetings to review the development plans of their departments and submit reports. 100% development funds have been released to all departments, utilization rate of released funds should be further improved, the Chief Minister said. Special attention should be given to the priority projects of the provincial government and projects close to completion.  Those projects which have a direct impact on the lives of the people of the province, their timely completion should be ensured, said the Chief Minister. Ensure practical progress on all mega projects of the current government, the cm said.

The Chief Minister directed to complete the recruitment process for all the vacant posts in the government departments within three months. The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to create new posts in all the water supply schemes for the posting of two personnel instead of one. The Chief Minister also directed to create posts of Wildlife Watchmen in the public game reserves of the province. Recruitment process for 1200 newly created posts of Forest Guards should be completed soon. The Chief Minister directed the Department of Primary and Secondary Education to recall all the teachers posted in other departments and administrative posts on deputation. All such teachers should be posted in schools within a week and a report should be submitted to higher authorities. The Chief Minister directed the Auqaf department to issue an announcement within 15 days to increase the monthly salaries of Khatibs across the province. The monthly salaries of these preachers should be increased from 8000 per month to 21000 per month.