ISLAMABAD
\nDeputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday highlighted the importance of transitioning the entire Planning Ministry\u2019s operations online to meet the demands of the modern era, terming \u201ccrucial\u201d for ensuring transparency, preventing resource wastage and improving governance.
\n\u201cWe must focus on bringing all of the ministry\u2019s operations online within a year,\u201d he said while chairing a review meeting of ongoing development projects under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.
\nAmong others, the meeting was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Wajiha Akram, a news release said.
\nAhsan Iqbal advocated for the inclusion of private sector consultants to enhance the performance of the Ministry\u2019s ongoing projects, adding, \u201cThe expertise of the private sector will be instrumental in improving project management and execution.\u201d
\nHe also called for a critical review of ongoing projects, advising that those not contributing to governmental efficiency should be terminated.
\nHe stressed the need for a more efficient and modernized approach to project planning and approval processes. \u201cWhen approving new projects, their practical implications and expected outcomes must be thoroughly assessed. Ministries need to move beyond mere project initiation and focus on successful completion,\u201d he added.
\nThe Deputy Chairman also issued strategic directives for improving the Intelligent Project Automation System (iPAS) under the Ministry of Planning, adding iPAS should evolve into a comprehensive project management tool to ensure the highest level of efficiency in this key initiative.
\nAs the government prepares for the next Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), Ahsan Iqbal underscored the importance of determining the availability of resources for projects initiated by various ministries. He reminded ministries to ensure that new projects are conceived within their allocated budgets.
\n\u201cProject directors must take responsibility for hiring project staff, and every ministry must ensure that its projects are financially viable,\u201d he added.
\nAhsan Iqbal also stressed the critical role of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) in supporting the government\u2019s economic agenda, specifically through research on economic growth, governance improvements, and new project proposals.
\n\u201cPIDE should serve as an economic think tank for the government, supporting the creation of sustainable projects that foster growth,\u201d he maintained.
\nAddressing the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that $25 billion in investment had already been made under CPEC and tasked PIDE with assessing the impact of this investment on Pakistan\u2019s economy and business sectors.
\n\u201cThe CPEC Center of Excellence must be merged with PIDE at the earliest opportunity to ensure that we leverage our academic and research capabilities to track the benefits of the $25 billion investment,\u201d he added.
\nAhsan Iqbal further emphasized that PIDE\u2019s research should benefit stakeholders across federal ministries and government institutions.
\nHe remarked that the development of PhD professionals to serve the public sector is a fundamental responsibility of PIDE, and all federal ministries are its primary stakeholders.
\n\u201cPIDE\u2019s research must provide tangible benefits to its stakeholders. We need to strengthen our governance frameworks through evidence-based research,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of Pakistan Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday highlighted the importance of transitioning the entire Planning Ministry\u2019s operations online to meet the demands of the modern era, terming \u201ccrucial\u201d for ensuring transparency, preventing resource wastage and improving governance. \u201cWe must focus on bringing all of the ministry\u2019s operations online […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":428901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n