AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, January 23, 2015 (PPI-OT): “Planning Commission is moving toward open data system to make public details of PSDP projects on website for public scrutiny”, the Federal Minister for Planning, Developing and Reform Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said it while chairing 6th meeting of Advisory Committee of Planning Commission today. The meeting discussed monitoring and evaluation process which is in place at the Planning Commission for public sector development projects.
The Federal Minister drew the attention of stakeholders and said, “During the last year Planning Commission has rationalized the PSDP projects to the total cost of Rs. 490 billion which is almost equivalent to the total allocation of PSDP amount for a year”. He attributed sheer negligence and lack of capacity of the concerned ministries and divisions for poor estimates of projects.
While referring to current petrol crisis in the country he said, “One of the primary causes of this ostensibly pandemonium was institutional inefficiency at different levels and Planning Commission is already on the road to revamp public sector through capacity building of human resource.
During martial laws civilian institutions suffer and become weak. In post martial laws periods, democratic governments have to deal with complex challenge. The government is working on a reform agenda aimed at restoring quality and building new capacities within public sector organizations”.
Commenting on the selective approach towards PSDP projects he said, “Federal Government is no longer investing in the areas which fall within the purview of provincial government after 18th amendment. However, the Federal Government is still committed to include projects of strategic and national importance in the PSDP”.
He referred to PSDP projects of National Curriculum Council and National Examination System as the examples of how the Federal Government is vigilant to promote national integration and coherence through such initiatives. He said, “Public funds earmarked for development ought to be spent transparently to create highest value as we are answerable to the people of Pakistan”.
“We don’t accept grants for the projects in the CDWP meeting which don’t conform to our national economic and development agenda envisaged in Vision 2025”, he added. He said, “Current petroleum crisis was unfortunate but it should not distract us from the recovery which country is receiving in different sectors.
Karachi’s situation is better today than 2013, fight against extremism is better than it was in 2013, confidence of investors is higher than 2013 and country’s ranking has improved for transparency compared to 2013. Now our strategy is to accelerate momentum for growth, investment, exports and job creation”.
The Federal Minister appreciated all the stakeholders from academia, civil society, private sector etc for their participation and valuable recommendations as to how could the Planning commission set the future course of policy and reform agenda in the public sector development projects which is the core objective of today’s meeting.
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