Staff Reporter
Peshawar
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has adopted the Public Investment Management (PIM) approach to ensure prudence in the provision and investment of funds on vital public infrastructure. Led by the Planning and Development Department, PIM will foster the decision making and resource allocation functions of the provincial government by aligning intended project results with the strategic development objectives.
The system, once fully implemented, will improve coordination and synergy among the development projects funded by development partners or through government resources to create greater impact of public investment on the provincial economy. It is an approach to manage government expenditures for public infrastructure strategically and efficiently.
This decision of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is in line with the approved recommendations of the Federal Government’s Planning Division for the simplification of development processes to improve public investment management. Given the limited financial, human and material resources, the PIM framework will enable the Planning and Development Department to maximise the efficiency of public investment through improved planning, selection and management of valuable public funds. The Chief Minister, Mahmood Khan, approved the PIM Advisory Committee with the Additional Chief Secretary, Shakeel Qadir Khan, as its Chair. The members of the committee include Secretary Planning and Development, Secretary Elementary and Secondary Education, Secretary Health, Secretary Local Government, Secretary Communication and Works, Secretary Irrigation, Secretary Public Health Engineering, Secretary Energy and Power, Secretary Agriculture, Secretary Industries and Secretary Tourism. The Chief Economist works as the Secretary to the committee who is being technically assisted by the Governance and Policy Project of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Following a series of review meetings, the committee has approved the PIM action plan at a cost of Rs 117 million, which includes ensuring oversight, providing advise and setting up an institutional arrangement in the form of PIM and Governance Reform Unit. The PIM Working Group constituted under the Secretary Planning and Development has the representation of the relevant Line Departments and Section Chiefs to manage the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee.
