MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Iftikhar Gilani has directed the concerned authorities to ensure the timely completion of development projects, warning that unnecessary delays not only escalate costs but also place an additional burden on the public exchequer. He issued the directives while chairing a high-level meeting attended by Additional Chief Secretary Development Atif Rehman, Principal Secretary Adnan Khurshid, Secretary Planning and Development Aamir Latif and other senior officials. The prime minister stressed that development schemes must be thoroughly planned before their launch, with all administrative, technical and financial issues resolved at the approval and initiation stages to prevent delays during implementation. He directed the authorities to engage reputable firms and contractors with proven track records, relevant experience and a history of satisfactory performance to ensure quality and timely execution of development schemes. Prime Minister Gilani said the government’s priority should be projects that deliver tangible and lasting benefits to the people rather than schemes undertaken merely for ceremonial inaugurations. “Wherever government funds are spent, their impact should be visible on the ground,” he said. He further called for the transparent, efficient and judicious utilization of public resources, stressing that the ultimate measure of any development project should be its contribution to improving the lives of ordinary citizens. The prime minister directed the concerned departments to maintain strict oversight of ongoing schemes and take timely measures to address any impediments to their completion.
