The Chief Secretary of Punjab, Mr. Zahid Akhtar Zaman along with Federal Secretary EAD Dr. Kazim Niaz, Chairman P&D Board Barrister Nabeel Ahmad Awan, and the World Bank's Country Director, Mr. Najy Benhessine, conducted a detailed review meeting of the implementation progress of foreign-funded projects in the province held at the AKS Auditorium in the P&D Board, Punjab.
The meeting focused on the ongoing progress of a range of foreign-funded projects. The discussions centered around the challenges faced during the implementation on the projects, identifying potential bottlenecks, and strategizing on ways to address them for smoother execution.
Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. Zahid Akhtar Zaman reaffirmed the Punjab Government’s commitment to strengthen its relationships with international development partners. He emphasized the need for aligning foreign-funded projects with the province’s long-term development goals.
Mr. Zahid Akhtar Zaman urged all administrative Secretaries and Project Directors to accelerate the pace of their work, ensuring timely and efficient completion of these initiatives.
Federal Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Dr. Kazim Niaz, underlined the importance of fostering close communication and collaboration with international development partners. He stressed that such partnerships are crucial for achieving sustainable outcomes in key sectors like infrastructure, education, health, , energy, agriculture, social development etc. in Punjab.
Chairman P&D Board, Barrister Nabeel Ahmad Awan, highlighted that the P&D has developed a robust monitoring system for tracking the progress of foreign-funded projects. He said that the P&D Board would continue to ensure transparency and merit-based execution of the projects. By using this mechanism, the P&D aims to identify any discrepancies and address them promptly.
Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Najy Benhessine emphasized the significance of timely completion of the projects which will not only ensure the optimal impact of these initiatives but also prove helpful to sustaine the confidence of international partners.
Mr. Najy Benhessine further suggested that regular assessments and progress reviews would help in maintaining the momentum of these crucial projects.
In addition to reviewing existing projects, the meeting also touched on potential future initiatives in partnership with international donors.
The attendees discussed emerging sectors such as climate resilience, sustainable urban development, and education reforms, where additional foreign investments would support Punjab's developmental agenda.
The meeting concluded with a collective agreement to continue enhancing collaboration among stakeholders and ensure that foreign-funded projects align with the province’s development objectives. All Showed their commitment to improve the standards of living of the common man in punjab through the successful execution of these projects.
Meeting attended by provincial Secretaries of Planning and Development Board, Transport , Irrigation, Finance, Energy, Industries, primary & secondary Healthcare, communication, and works , Population Housing and urban development, Tourism, Environment protection and Climate Change and other administrative departments , Chief Economist P&D board, Chairman PITB, DG population, Members of the P&D Board, Project Directors, and representatives from other relevant departments participated.
