Rural areas: Just half of projects in six years completed

Around 89 development projects were approved for the rural areas of Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD:

Less than half of the 89 development projects approved for the rural areas of Islamabad in the past six years were completed. Twelve of these projects have not yet even started, despite being approved under the Islamabad Development Package (IDP) back in 2005.

This was said by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Tariq Mahmood Pirzada in a recent briefing to a steering committee overseeing the IDP. The meeting was chaired by Senator Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and included Capital Development Authority Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz, Senator Saeeda Iqbal and Senator Usman Saifullah Khan.

Pirzada blamed the slow pace of work and the 12 nonstarter projects  on the planning commission, which has yet to release funds. These projects pertain to construction and/or repair of rural roads, water supply schemes, renovation of Rural Health Centres and strengthening the healthcare facilities.

Bokhari instructed the planning commission officials to resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2012.