Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the prolonged delays in development projects and announced a major reform initiative. He directed that a comprehensive strategy be prepared immediately to introduce reforms and transparency at all stages—from planning to completion.
The Prime Minister made it clear that he will personally head a steering committee to supervise these reforms, and stakeholders from both federal and provincial levels will be included in the process. While chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on the timely completion of development projects, he stated that completing key national projects within the set timeframe is the government’s top priority. He also thanked international partners, especially the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, for their continued support in improving Pakistan’s development framework.
During the briefing, government officials indicated that various systemic hurdles are slowing down development initiatives. The most prominent issue is delays in the procurement process, which affects project completion timelines. Officials suggested that implementing an e-procurement system, modern digital procedures, and project readiness facilities would not only accelerate procurement but also ensure timely completion of projects.
The briefing also highlighted the need to align human resources with project targets. Ineffective strategies in staffing and administrative matters are contributing to delays, and addressing these issues is essential for achieving the goals set under the PSDP and ADP.
In response to these challenges, the Prime Minister ordered the establishment of four special working groups.
- The first group will focus on reforms in project approval stages and preparation processes.
- The second group will modernize the procurement system.
- The third group will work to resolve issues related to land acquisition and resettlement of affected people.
- The fourth group will focus on improving human resources, appropriate staff deployment, and administrative reforms.
Federal ministers along with representatives from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank attended the meeting and shared their recommendations for accelerating the development process. Those present included Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musaddiq Malik, Economic Affairs Minister Ahsan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Energy Minister Owais Leghari, and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik.
