The government’s economic team has entrusted the technical teams from the Economic Affairs Division, Planning Commission and the World Bank to chalk out a roadmap that could simplify the existing processes related to the development portfolio.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.
The meeting was given a joint presentation by the Economic Affairs Division and the World Bank on different options to simplify the structure of existing approval processes of the development portfolio.
It was decided that the technical teams will work towards shortening the project conception timeframe while also ensuring the presence of required funds, availability of project staff and timely procurements.
The initiative will bring implementation preparedness to a new level, besides incorporating capacity at implementation level to conceive and prepare project pipeline in line with the annual and medium-term government frameworks, upfront preparation of safeguards and procurement documents, and appointment of relevant staff.
The government intends to digitise the entire planning process so as to expedite the decision-making processes, which would lead to the timely implementation of projects.
It was decided that technical teams of the World Bank, Planning Commission and Economic Affairs Division would chalk out a road map, besides identifying specific areas of interventions and report back to the forum in three to four weeks.
The meeting was attended by Economic Affairs Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Planning, Development and Reform Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar, Adviser to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain and senior officials of the State Bank of Pakistan.
