LAHORE   -  The Punjab government released Rs144.47 billion for the ongoing development schemes in the province on the first day of the new fiscal year.

“Hopefully, all the ongoing schemes will be completed without any further delay,” said Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht. He was chairing a meeting held on Thursday to review progress on the action plan for the implementation of the annual development programme for the financial year 2021-22.

The meeting was informed that the ongoing projects include 2274 schemes in the services, infrastructure, social and productive sectors. The government has allocated Rs144.47 billion and also released the said amount on Thursday (July 1st). Immediate disbursement of funds has been made to complete development projects affected by Covid-19 during the last two years. After the provision of funds, the communication and works department and other agencies concerned will ensure completion of work without any delay.

Further, an effective monitoring system is being set up under the Planning and Development Department which will provide continuous monitoring services for the timely completion of significant government initiatives and major projects. The Punjab chief minister himself and other members of the government will also review the progress of the projects from time to time.

On the occasion, the minister directed the officials concerned to ensure quality in execution of the development projects and fast pace in their completion. “The services of the Directorate General of Monitoring and Evaluation will be sought to check the transparency and quality in the projects. The agency will ensure third party audits in addition to its supervisory teams,” he remarked.

Other participants in the meeting included Secretary Finance Iftikhar Ali Saho, Secretary Planning and Development Board Imran Sikandar and officers of the Finance Department and Planning and Development Board.

UHS MEETING

A meeting of Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) was held here on Thursday with UHS Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Maroof Aziz in the chair.

The board evaluated thesis reports for awarding degrees and considered synopses for registration of students in various postgraduate courses.