LAHORE: The Planning and Development Board has directed all administrative departments to prepare and send the first draft of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2024-25 by Feb 15.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and P&D Board Chairman Iftikhar Ali Sahoo co-chaired a meeting at the P&D Board and discussed the upcoming ADP with all administrative secretaries in attendance.

Mr Sahoo briefed the meeting about the guidelines for the preparation of ADP of respective administrative departments.

The CS directed that the departments should set priorities for the annual development programme and only focus on public interest while preparing the development schemes.

He said concrete steps were taken to improve the financial management and governance of the province during the last one year. Due to better economic policies, he said, Punjab paid off a debt of Rs500 billion.

The chief secretary said timely and transparent utilisation of funds in development projects was ensured, and a priority was given to completion of ongoing uplift schemes instead of starting new projects.

He said upgradation of hospitals across the province and construction and repair of 134 roads were completed in a short period of time, adding that to provide basic facilities in villages on the pattern of cities “Ab Gaon Chamkeinge” Programme was launched. He stressed to continue these measures.

The chief secretary awarded certificates to 12 project directors, who showed high performance.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2024