Astore A meeting of the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP), chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Gilgit-Baltistan, was held to review the progress of various ongoing development projects in the region, along with technical matters and issues related to revised project costs.
The meeting approved revised estimates for 13 development projects that required revision due to technical reasons. Detailed consideration was given to the technical aspects of the projects, their current progress, and necessary modifications while keeping the projects within their approved cost limits.
On the occasion, the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) directed the concerned departments to complete all development projects within their originally approved costs and strictly avoid unnecessary expenditures or unwarranted increases in project costs. He emphasized that financial discipline, transparency and prescribed standards must be ensured in all development projects.
He also directed all Works Departments to accelerate the pace of work on ongoing projects so that they could be completed within the stipulated timeframe and their benefits could be delivered to the public. He further stressed the need to maintain high construction standards and directed that no compromise be made on the quality of work.
Officials of the concerned departments gave detailed briefings on their respective development projects and apprised the meeting of the technical and administrative issues being faced in their timely completion.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary Planning and Development, Secretary Finance, Secretary Works, heads of other relevant departments and senior officials.