News
Thursday, April 29, 2010
President for expediting work on satellite imaging
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday advised the government to expedite work on satellite imaging and the monitoring of major development and strategic projects for effective implementation and monitoring.
He said this during a briefing given to him on the working of the special committee for monitoring developmental projects through satellite imaging.
The briefing was attended by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Ishfaq Ahmed, Special Committee Chairperson Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, SUPARCO Chairman Maj Gen (r) Syed Raza Hussain, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Kamal Majidullah, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat, President spokesman Farhatullah Babar and other senior officials of the Planning Commission and various ministries. The meeting was pursuant to the directives of the president dated November 20, 2009.
The president directed that a provision for satellite imaging of the developmental projects in FATA be included in PC-1 proposals in the future for effective implementation and monitoring of various developmental projects undertaken in the Tribal Areas.
The president also said the reports of developmental projects should be supported by satellite images so that efficiency and transparency could be ensured.
The meeting was informed that the online Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (PMES) available with the Planning Commission had limited capacity for storage of satellite imagery.
The president directed that provision for monitoring equipment for quality assessment of infrastructure projects, particularly bridges, roads, dams and pavements be made on a priority basis.
Zardari advised the Planning Commission to take up satellite monitoring of strategic infrastructure projects in the country as pilot activity. He also advised the concerned government departments, including the Planning Commission, the Geological Survey of Pakistan and SUPARCO to pool their resources and coordinate with each other to develop an effective satellite monitoring system. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk