ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Friday directed the Planning Commission not to reduce PSDP allocations for Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He further directed the Planning Commission to maintain sectoral priorities while reducing allocations. He further stressed that efforts should be made to complete projects on time and in case of delays, reasons should be studied to avoid their future occurrences. The minister was briefed by Planning Commission on PSDP allocations, its sectoral distribution and how the reduction of Rs 100 billion would affect the development projects. A comprehensive presentation was made by Sohail Ahmed, Secretary Planning and Development Division, along with other senior members of Planning Commission, while Dr. Nadeem-ul-Haq, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Federal Secretary Finance, and Abdul Wajid Rana, Special Secretary Finance, were also present on the occasion. The secretary planning and development division briefed the finance minister on monitoring and evaluation set-up operationalised in the Planning Commission for public sector development projects. He elucidated that judicious and efficient utilisation of resources, in financial and physical terms, was of utmost importance, particularly in the backdrop of current socio-economic circumstances. Monitoring and evaluation are vital tools that help in streamlining the execution of projects and identify the bottlenecks that hamper smooth, effective and timely implementation of the projects. The projects wing, constituted within the Planning Commission, is mandated to perform functions: monitoring of development projects/ programmes; evaluation of completed projects to assess their impact on the economy; preparation/ submission of quarterly progress reports to PM Secretariat on strategic projects; analysis of monitoring reports and presentation of findings to the NEC, ECNEC and quarterly review meetings for policy decisions; implementation of policy decisions regarding implementation of projects; and online connectivity through project monitoring evaluation system (PMES). The monitoring and evaluation carried out by the projects wing has helped identify various bottlenecks in the smooth implementation of the development projects. These issues have also been highlighted in the monitoring reports prepared by the projects wing and also referred to the concerned ministries / implementing authorities for redressal and taking necessary corrective measures. The management information section (MIS) of the projects wing is maintaining the latest data on projects and their latest financial and physical progress. The system has been institutionalised by developing and strengthening the PMES. The system provides online and real-time connectivity to the concerned stakeholders and provides effective information for decision-making. Four directors of MIS section are stationed at the provincial headquarters/provincial P&D Departments to assist the provincial P&D departments in online connectivity and gathering relevant information. Presently, 23 ministries are online and the 24th ministry will be connected during the next week. A total number of 33 ministries will be connected during the current financial year.