CM for involving NAB in uplift projects’ planning, execution

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (R) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah has decided to involve representatives of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the project cycle, including conception, planning and execution of development projects.

He directed the quarters concerned to send a formal letter to NAB authorities in this regard. A handout said that he was presiding over the 15th meeting of the Board of Directors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority at Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday.

Caretaker Minister for Science and Technology and Information Technology Najeebullah, administrative secretaries of departments, DIG Traffic Police, chief executive officer of TransPeshawar and others attended the meeting.

The chief minister said that the whole exercise will not only ensure transparency in the development works but also give confidence to the working officers, and resultantly they will not feel any hesitation and fear regarding implementation of the projects.

The chief minister directed the officials that all matters related to development projects should be kept fair and transparent in all respects from the very beginning so that implementation of projects was not delayed due to fear of accountability in the future. “This process will help to ensure completion of development projects within the stipulated time lines,” he remarked.

The Board approved the proposed Nomination Committee with terms of reference to recommend/nominate the non-official members of the board as well as to further rationalize the number of board members. The proposed committee will recommend necessary amendments in the relevant law for that purpose. The board accorded conditional approval to the proposed budget of Authority for fiscal year 2023-24. The board approved a financial audited report of Authority for the fiscal year 2021-22 and allowed to share the same with all the stakeholders. The financial audited report had been conducted through an independent chartered account firm.

Ongoing development projects and other various matters related to sustainability of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project were also discussed in the meeting. The chief minister convened a meeting of PDA and other relevant departments to take stock of progress on the construction of commercial plazas and to decide future course of action to ensure completion of the projects.

The chief minister directed the TransPeshawar and other autonomous bodies to pay special attention to their self-reliance, adding that all the autonomous bodies/institutions would have to ensure efficient and judicious use of available resources for this purpose.