F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Under the chair of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, a series of consultative meetings are underway to finalize the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP). On Saturday, a consultative session was held to discuss development proposals for the Dera Ismail Khan Division.
The meeting focused on evaluating and prioritizing proposed projects for inclusion in the upcoming ADP. The session was attended by Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies from the D.I. Khan Division, as well as senior officials from the divisional and district administrations. Participants reviewed progress on ongoing development projects launched under the current fiscal year’s ADP across the four districts of the division. Relevant department heads briefed the attendees in detail on the current status and implementation of these initiatives.
Speaking to the participants, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized that the completion of ongoing development projects would be the top priority in the upcoming budget. A significant portion of the development funds will be allocated toward completing these projects to ensure that the public can benefit from them without delay. He noted that projects with at least 80% completion will be finalized next year, and large-scale projects meeting widespread public needs will be prioritized for inclusion in the new ADP.
The Chief Minister stated that the ADP’s 13-year throw-forward has been reduced to seven years and will be further trimmed in the coming fiscal year. He highlighted that a record-breaking 550 development schemes were completed during the current fiscal year-the highest in the province’s history-and over 600 schemes are expected to be completed in the next year. He assured that there is no shortage of funds for ongoing projects, adding that the province’s financial standing is currently the best it has ever been, with Rs. 150 billion securely held in the endowment fund. Gandapur urged elected representatives to propose projects that would benefit large segments of the population.
He reiterated that health and education remain priority sectors, with plans to increase investment in these areas in the coming year. Where needed, schools and colleges will be opened in rented buildings, and steps will be taken to ensure round-the-clock availability of services at existing health centers. “We are prioritizing the delivery of services and facilities over mere infrastructure development,” the Chief Minister concluded.
