ICCI calls for better planning

Cites several projects that have overrun initial costs, time limit.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Acting President Muhammad Shakeel Munir has called upon the government to ensure timely completion of developmental projects to avoid unnecessary wastage of taxpayers’ money.

He was addressing the concluding ceremony of a five-day training workshop on project management professionals organised by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan.

He said many mega projects in Pakistan have often overrun their initial costs due to the fact that the fundamental principles of project management are ignored while planning projects.

This approach puts a negative impact on the overall economy as it drains the national exchequer and brings more problems to the taxpayers who have to pay more for unprofessional handling of projects while the government has to resort to external resources to meet its financial needs putting more debt burden on the country.

This state of affairs necessitates that policymakers and planners should ensure timely completion of projects by execution of planned activities with strict monitoring of projects.

He said the trend of launching high profile projects without taking stakeholders on board also creates many difficulties and incurs huge extra costs.

He stressed that important projects should be planned and executed after thorough consultation with stakeholders and extensive planning to avoid any hiccups. This approach would facilitate the timely completion of projects within cost and yield desired outcomes for the economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2014.

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