LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Ali Afzal has directed all departments to ensure timely and transparent utilisation of allocated funds, and devising a mechanism to streamline the process of release of funds.

While chairing a meeting to review the mid-year progress of Annual Development Program (ADP) at the Planning and Development Department, Afzal said that the administrative secretary of the relevant department would be held accountable for delay in completion of development projects.

He said that public interest should be taken into consideration while preparing uplift schemes, directing the departments to cooperate for the acquisition of government land for schools, hospitals, and other welfare schemes.

He also directed immediate issuance of pending work orders, saying that all the administrative secretaries should regularly review the development schemes of their respective departments.

Planning and Development Department chairman Abdullah Khan Sumbal briefed the meeting about the allocations, releases, and utilisation of funds. The administrative secretaries of all the departments attended the meeting while the additional chief secretary and secretaries of South Punjab participated through video link.

Meanwhile, the CS presided over a video-link meeting of all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners at the civil secretariat to review prices of essential commodities including flour, sugar, availability of fertilisers, and measures against smuggling, directing the officers to continue monitoring fertilisers supply and stocks through the online portal.

He said that crackdown against those involved in hoarding of fertilisers and profiteering should be continued, directing the deputy commissioners of bordering districts to keep a close watch on the smuggling of wheat.

He directed the officers to show no leniency to those fleecing consumers by creating artificial price-hikes, and to take steps to minimise the differential between wholesale and retail prices of vegetables, and to expedite the process of registration of grocery stores under the Ehsas Ration Programme.

The divisional commissioners gave a detailed briefing on price control measures, informing that action was being taken against hoarders and profiteers in districts. So far at check-posts in DG Khan, the authorities have seized 23 vehicles illegally transporting fertilisers out of the province.

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