LAHORE: The federal and Punjab governments have committed to foster close communication and collaboration with the international development partners and ensure that foreign-funded projects align with the province’s development objectives.

Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman along with Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, P&D Board Chairman Nabeel Awan, and World Bank’s Country Director Najy Benhessine, conducted a detailed review meeting of the implementation progress of foreign-funded projects in the province held at the board’s AKS Auditorium on Thursday.

As the meeting focused on the ongoing progress of a range of foreign-funded projects, the discussions centered around the challenges faced during the implementation of the projects, identifying potential bottlenecks, and strategising ways to address them for smoother execution.

CS Mr Zaman reaffirmed the Punjab government’s commitment to strengthen its relationships with international development partners. He emphasised the need for aligning foreign-funded projects with the province’s long-term development goals.

He urged all administrative secretaries and project directors to accelerate the pace of their work, ensuring timely and efficient completion of these initiatives.

Federal Secretary EAD Dr Niaz called for augmenting close communication and collaboration with the international development partners. He said such partnerships were crucial for achieving sustainable outcomes in key sectors like infrastructure, education, health, energy, agriculture, social development etc., in Punjab.

P&D Board Chairman Mr Awan asserted that the board had developed a robust monitoring system for tracking the progress of foreign-funded projects. He said the board would continue to ensure transparency and merit-based execution of the projects. By using this mechanism, he said the board was identifying discrepancies and addressing them promptly.

Mr Awan said the Punjab government was committed to improve the standards of living of the common man across the province through the successful execution of these projects.

World Bank Country Director Najy Benhessine emphasised the significance of timely completion of the projects that would not only ensure the optimal impact of these initiatives but also prove helpful to sustain the confidence of international partners. He also suggested that regular assessments and progress reviews would help maintain the momentum of these crucial projects.

In addition to reviewing existing projects, the meeting also discussed potential future initiatives in partnership with international donors. The meeting participants discussed emerging sectors like climate resilience, sustainable urban development, and education reforms, where additional foreign investments would support Punjab’s developmental agenda.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2024