ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday chaired a review meeting on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-25, assessing third-quarter utilisation, proposed projects and future allocations.

A statement issued here said that he directed the economic section to evaluate fund utilisation, provide an update on block allocations and submit a status report on the fourth-quarter release.

Emphasising the importance of productive investments, Ahsan Iqbal stressed that development projects should create long-term economic benefits for local communities.

He directed to prioritise national-level initiatives and strategic initiatives for the upcoming PSDP.

Mr Iqbal highlighted that addressing energy challenges in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) remains a critical priority and directed that projects aimed at resolving this issue be given due focus.

To ensure an efficient and well-coordinated development framework, he instructed the convening of meetings with all federal secretaries to align ministerial priorities for PSDP 2025-26.

He also emphasised strengthening the evaluation process in iPAS, directing that only PC-1s meeting the required criteria be included and that the system be further automated through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance transparency and efficiency.

In the education sector, the minister stressed the need to review stalled projects and initiatives aimed at out-of-school children, ensuring timely intervention.

He also reiterated the importance of merit-based selection for scholarship programmes, ensuring that public funds were utilised prudently and effectively.

To enhance project oversight, he called for an audit of slow-moving projects and emphasised leveraging Suparco’s space technology to monitor on-ground project progress.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025