The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday made the declaration of expenditures mandatory for developmental and non-developmental projects to ensure transparency and good governance at all levels. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz chaired the meeting.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Akram Shaikh briefed newsmen on Ecnec decisions.
He said the declaration would apply to procurement of any contract, right, interest, privilege or other obligation or benefit from the government or any administrative subdivision or agency thereof or any other entity owned or controlled by it (GoP).
The contractor/firm agency or company will declare the brokerage, commission, fees, etc., paid or payable to anyone. It demands that the contractor/firm or agency involved in development or non-development projects has made and will make full disclosure of all agreements and arrangements with all persons in respect of or related to the transaction with the GoP and has not taken any action or will not take any action to circumvent the above declaration, representation or warranty.
False declaration or half disclosure, misrepresenting facts or any action likely to defeat the purpose of this declaration, representation and warranty will cost heavily to the contractor/firm or company. Any loss or damage incurred by the contractor/firm or company on account of corrupt business practices will result in heavy compensation to the GoP in an amount equivalent to 10 times the sum of any commission, gratification, bribe, finder's fee or kickback for the purpose of obtaining or inducing the procurement of any contract, right, interest, privilege or other obligation or benefit in whatsoever form from the GoP.
The Ecnec approved 30 projects worth Rs 183.6 billion. Foreign exchange component (FEC) will make half share of the funds.
Major share, Rs 118.2 billion, of the funding will go to infrastructure-related projects. Good governance will cost Rs 51.8 billion.
Other sectors, which were granted funds included energy, physical planning and housing, transport, communications and water.
The Ecnec also approved Rs 1.696 billion for the Prime Minister's Special Initiative Livestock. It has Rs 100 million share in the PSDP.
Akram Sheikh said that the pilot project of livestock was for the entire country including AJK, Fata and Fana. He said that the project would focus on milk production and help the government in reducing poverty from the rural areas.
In all Rs 1.837 billion were allocated for Barani Village Development project (Punjab).
The committee also approved Rs 1.252 billion for post-doctoral fellowship for university teachers and Rs 5.142 billion (Rs 672 million FEC) for Rawalpindi environmental improvement project.
Dr Akram Sheikh said that the government has sufficient funds to finance three or even more big water reservoirs, including Kalabagh Dam.
He said that the government should utilise ideal northern mountain height of 8,000 feet and substantial amount of water in the rivers by making dams.
Pakistan's rich water resources, if materialised in the shape of dams and reservoirs, could highly improve economic and social development of the country, he added.