A meeting of Provincial Steering Committee was held with Minister for C&W Sardar M Asif Nakai and Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht in the chair to review progress on “Naya Pakistan Manzalen Asaan” Program phase-II.
The C&W Secretary briefed both the ministers that, to provide better communication and transportation facilities to the underprivileged rural areas, Phase-1 of Road Assessment Programme (RAP) stands completed and the phase-2 will be launched soon. Three schemes for phase-2 of RAP were included in ADP 2019-20 with the allocation of Rs13,000 billion, however, same could not be launched due to stringent pecuniary issues and COVID-19. In order to propagate this flagship program, RAP schemes have been now included in ADP 2020-21. The scheme of construction and rehabilitation of roads in south Punjab areas Bahawalpur, DG Khan and Multan would be started on priority basis under RAP phase 2, said secretary C&W.
While addressing the meeting, Minister C&W Asif Nakai stressed the immediate implementation of phase 2 of ‘Naya Pakistan Manzalen Asaan’ Program. He said that the new schemes in south region will be a ray of hope for the deprived people of that area. He appreciated the efforts of the department on developing a proper mechanism for the identification of roads on the basis of the Human Development Index, classification of districts and length of roads. To give the economy a boost, it is important to link all the districts to CPEC and other economic zones, he added. PTI govt will make sure that the funds would be spent for the development of the same district for which it would be released, further added.
Finance Minister purposed to make a comprehensive report on the issues management faced during the implementation of phase 1 and suggested to consider those during the next phase to avoid the problems.
He also said to review the development percentage of construction and rehabilitation of roads, as the rehabilitation of dilapidated roads is more important.
