Capital value-addition: Planning division mulling 42 development schemes for 2015

ICT has approved, forwarded 37 new, five revised projects.

ISLAMABAD: Over 40 development schemes for the capital’s rural areas adjoining rural areas have been approved by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration at an estimated cost of Rs2 billion, said an official.

The schemes were given a nod of approval by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul during a meeting of the Islamabad Development Working Party (IDWP) at the ICT complex on Wednesday.

A participant at the meeting told The Express Tribune that 42 schemes were approved, five of which were revised from the previous fiscal year.

“The schemes have been approved and sent to the planning and development division so government can allocate funds in the upcoming budget 2014-2015,” he added.

He explained that before the start of a new fiscal year, departments have to approve and forward lists of development schemes to the planning and development division so that funds can be allocated for them in the budget. ICT approved 37 new schemes and revised five older ones.

The newly-proposed schemes are related to development of roads in the adjoining rural areas, street pavements and water supply. The revised schemes, pending since 2011, have to do with the improvement of civil defence department, street pavement in various areas, construction of streets in rural areas of NA-48, and construction of internal roads in Koral village. The total estimated cost of these schemes is Rs2.64 million. Paul also approved two residential accommodation schemes for officers of the ICT administration.

The official added that there are no offices for the chief commissioner and deputy commissioner in the federal capital. Moreover, he informed that one particular scheme — for the establishment of a police station in G-8 Markaz — was rejected by Paul, who decided to seek guidance from the planning and planning division.

A senior official of the ICT confirmed that five schemes were revised because funds were not available to execute these projects earlier. Last year, the ministry of finance released only 40 per cent of the funds required for these schemes. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2014.