Deputy Chairman Planning Commission (DCPC), Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, chaired a workshop on the implementation strategy to implement simplifications of development procedures for improving project management already approved by ECNEC, here in Islamabad on Thursday.
The representatives of federal ministries, divisions, provincial governments, and departments attended the workshop. The representatives shared their views regarding the implementation of the approved recommendations of the ECNEC on the simplification of development processes for project management and further improvement of development procedures.
Muhammad Jehanzeb said that the main ministries and departments would develop sectoral development vision and policy consistent with the national priorities and vision. The ministries and departments will have dedicated project planning and development units with appropriate human resources to design project documents professionally so that project deliverables can be achieved as per schedule.
ALSO READ
ECNEC Approves Infrastructure Projects Worth Billions of Rupees
While highlighting legal and financial matters, it was informed that a contract management legal specialist would also be hired for the projects which would help in avoiding arbitration issues and also save the national funds. He stressed that the feasibility of any project should include technical and economic guidelines including, options analysis.
He said, “We have to adopt modern practices by hiring qualified international consultants as money spent on a good consultant is money saved on the project.”
DCPC emphasized improving the current development model. He further added that rather than the procedures, we have to focus on results, and procedures need to be simplified to improve project management.
It is worth noting that PC-1 will now be digitized through the proposed automation process. The capacity of the officers involved in development procedures would be enhanced through training in relevant fields. A Project Director (PD), at the preparation stage of PC-I, would also be appointed. Any project above Rs. 3 billion would require an independent PD to be hired from the market on a competitive basis.
ALSO READ
CDWP Approved 4 Projects Worth Rs. 3.69 Billion
In relevance to the release of funds, it was shared that the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning will further simplify procedures for the release of funds and eliminate any bottlenecks that cause unnecessary delays in the implementation of the development projects.
