To avoid delay, premier delegates project approval powers
Now, relevant depts can approve development schemes worth over Rs30m each
PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has delegated his powers to the departments and authorities concerned for the approval and execution of development projects worth over Rs30 million each in the constituencies of parliamentarians under the Global SDG Achievement Programme.
Earlier, the cabinet had given discretionary powers to former premier Nawaz Sharif, enabling him to approve gas, power and infrastructure projects worth over Rs30 million each under the 2016-18 development programme, which was aimed at meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
DDWP approves road project worth Rs182m
As part of the set guidelines, the agencies concerned could sanction schemes worth less than Rs30 million. However, projects costing over Rs30 million required the prime minister’s nod.
According to the Cabinet Division, this process caused delay in the approval and implementation of development schemes.
“Now, the cabinet, in a recent meeting, gave the go-ahead for amendments to the guidelines in order to clear the way for approval of projects costing more than Rs30 million by the departments and agencies concerned,” revealed a senior government official while talking to The Express Tribune.
Under the SDG achievement programme, the current Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has decided to re-launch the gas supply schemes initiated during the tenure of previous Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) administration. It is targeting to complete these projects before 2018 elections under the Rs100-billion development package. The minimum criterion for picking a locality for electricity supply is the presence of 10 houses in that area.
However, the government has removed the minimum cost bar for power supply schemes under the SDGs following execution of work on several projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
With gradual increase in power production, the prime minister has announced that electricity load-shedding will come to an end in the current fiscal year as many power plants are heading towards completion.
According to sources, the minimum cost bar was lifted after a steering committee, tasked with implementing different schemes under the SDGs, recommended amendments to the guidelines.
It suggested that the minimum cost for electricity supply schemes should be Rs100,000 instead of Rs500,000. The government removed the bar altogether.
The guidelines also suggested that savings should be surrendered immediately after the completion of a scheme without waiting for the close of financial year. No new scheme will be entertained and financed from savings made in the originally funded projects.
Energy supply has already improved in the country compared to the situation in 2013. The government has vowed to enhance power and gas supply through different sources.
Gwadar Expressway cost capped at $168m
It has started importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and now the country is receiving 600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd). This is being provided to consumers like compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations and fertiliser manufacturing plants that have no alternative fuel available.
Electricity supply has also got better in the wake of implementation of energy projects under CPEC with the government believing that the country will enjoy surplus electricity from next year.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2017.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has delegated his powers to the departments and authorities concerned for the approval and execution of development projects worth over Rs30 million each in the constituencies of parliamentarians under the Global SDG Achievement Programme.
Earlier, the cabinet had given discretionary powers to former premier Nawaz Sharif, enabling him to approve gas, power and infrastructure projects worth over Rs30 million each under the 2016-18 development programme, which was aimed at meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
DDWP approves road project worth Rs182m
As part of the set guidelines, the agencies concerned could sanction schemes worth less than Rs30 million. However, projects costing over Rs30 million required the prime minister’s nod.
According to the Cabinet Division, this process caused delay in the approval and implementation of development schemes.
“Now, the cabinet, in a recent meeting, gave the go-ahead for amendments to the guidelines in order to clear the way for approval of projects costing more than Rs30 million by the departments and agencies concerned,” revealed a senior government official while talking to The Express Tribune.
Under the SDG achievement programme, the current Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has decided to re-launch the gas supply schemes initiated during the tenure of previous Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) administration. It is targeting to complete these projects before 2018 elections under the Rs100-billion development package. The minimum criterion for picking a locality for electricity supply is the presence of 10 houses in that area.
However, the government has removed the minimum cost bar for power supply schemes under the SDGs following execution of work on several projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
With gradual increase in power production, the prime minister has announced that electricity load-shedding will come to an end in the current fiscal year as many power plants are heading towards completion.
According to sources, the minimum cost bar was lifted after a steering committee, tasked with implementing different schemes under the SDGs, recommended amendments to the guidelines.
It suggested that the minimum cost for electricity supply schemes should be Rs100,000 instead of Rs500,000. The government removed the bar altogether.
The guidelines also suggested that savings should be surrendered immediately after the completion of a scheme without waiting for the close of financial year. No new scheme will be entertained and financed from savings made in the originally funded projects.
Energy supply has already improved in the country compared to the situation in 2013. The government has vowed to enhance power and gas supply through different sources.
Gwadar Expressway cost capped at $168m
It has started importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and now the country is receiving 600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd). This is being provided to consumers like compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations and fertiliser manufacturing plants that have no alternative fuel available.
Electricity supply has also got better in the wake of implementation of energy projects under CPEC with the government believing that the country will enjoy surplus electricity from next year.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2017.