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       ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Sheh-baz Sharif on Thursday directed to ensure third-party validation for transparency in public welfare projects, especially those related to clean water, electricity, communication, and education.

       He emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards in completed and near-completion projects through independent validation.

       Presiding over a review meeting regarding the development projects of the current fiscal year, the prime minister instructed that delayed projects must be completed as soon as possible.

       He said the construction of Daanish Schools in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and all provinces was a top priority of the government.

       The prime minister said that educational institutions were a vital part of the current fiscal year’s development plans which are aimed at providing international-standard education and training to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring equal development opportunities.

       Seeks policy framework for easy loans to farmers

       He said that water reservoirs were crucial for national integrity and several projects were currently under construction for this purpose.

       He said the establishment of technology parks in Karachi and Islamabad will make the country a significant economic hub for information technology both in the region and globally.

       He stressed the need for developing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as it was a key component of the government’s economic vision for the country.

       Agriculture loans

       Later, presiding over a review meeting on planning for agricultural development and agri-financing, PM Shehbaz directed relevant authorities to present a policy framework for providing easy loans to farmers for medium- and small-scale agriculture activities.

       “Priority should be given to providing modern agricultural facilities to farmers owning less than 12 acres of land,” the prime minister said.

       He directed to prepare and present a plan by the end of this month for providing farmers with easy loans and introducing a system in agri-financing sector aligned with modern requirements.

       The PM said the country’s progress was linked to the development of agriculture sector and value addition of the agriculture products.

       Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2025