The Planning and Development Board, led by Chairman Hamed Yakoob Sheikh and Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch held comprehensive portfolio review meetings with key development partners, World Bank and Asian Development Bank to review progress, improve implemenatation as well as identify areas where projects to improve quality of life, service delivery and human development indicators in Punjab.The ADB Delegation was led by Ms Xiaohong Yang, Country Director ADB and along with Chairman Secretary P&D, relevant administrative secretaries of departments were also present in the meeting. Currently the Government of Punjab has five major projects in Punjab Trimmua and Punjnad Barrages Project, Access to Clean Energy Investment Project, Pusnjab Intermediate Investment Project, Enhancing Public- Private Partnership in Punjab and Jalalpur Irrigation Project, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
Pipeline projects of ADB in Punjab include Rehabilitation of Islam Barrage , Project readiness Financing of Punjab Water Resource Management, Punjab Readiness Financing for PCIIPP, Punjab Agriculture Markets Development Projects, Greater Thal Canal Phase III, Improving Wrkforce Readiness in Punjab and Punjab Provincial Roads Multi-Tranche Financing facility MFF. The World Bank Delegation, was led by John Roomee, Regional Director South Asia on Sustainable Development and Illango Panchawatan, Country Head Pakistan. Active World Bank Projects in Punjab are focused on Skills, Jobs and Competitiveness, Agriculture, Tourism and Climate Change. A major project of the World Bank in partnership with Punjab Government, Punjab Human Capital Investment Project ($200 million) is being launched with a focus on investing in key human development areas for the future. The representatives of World Bank and ADB showed a great deal of satisfaction on the progress of development in Punjab and had hoped that the existing and new projects will improve the lives of the people in the province. They also appreciated the efforts of the Planning and Development Board leadership in speeding up the process of project appraisal and implementing and introducing stringent monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure accountability and transparency in all development work in the province. Chairman P&D Board, Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh said that an efficient and productive working relationship with development partners in Punjab is ensuring smooth implementation of projects in the province and ensuring that money is efficiently utilized.