Irrigation secretary says delay in development projects unacceptable

QUETTA: A review meeting of the Irrigation Department was held under the chairmanship of Balochistan Irrigation Secretary Sohail ur Rehman Baloch. Senior officers and heads of the relevant wings attended. The meeting reviewed in detail the projects under way, those completed and those to be launched in the province.

Officers briefed the secretary on the progress of the projects, the present state of construction work, the stages of completion, the problems faced and the future plan of action. The completion of projects within the set time and the effective use of funds were also reviewed.

Sohail ur Rehman Baloch directed that practical and effective steps be taken to complete all projects on time. He made it clear that delay in development projects would not be acceptable in any circumstances and that obstacles to completion should be removed on a priority basis. He said irrigation projects were of special importance for the province’s agricultural economy, better water management and public facilities, so there would be no compromise on the quality of work.

He directed that transparency, quality and full compliance with rules and regulations be ensured, that projects be monitored regularly, and that the pace and quality of work be checked in the field, so that public resources were used effectively. The meeting also considered proposals on planning future projects, setting priorities and making the irrigation system more effective. The secretary directed that the province’s needs on the ground, the priorities of the agriculture sector and the available water resources be kept in view while preparing new projects.

He said officers should perform their duties professionally to improve the department’s performance, and that an effective system of monitoring projects and reporting progress should be ensured. At the end of the meeting, he directed that the set targets be achieved and that a comprehensive report on the progress of projects be presented at the next meeting.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan