PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that consultants hired for public sector development projects will be held responsible if the contractors of the schemes are found involved in using substandard construction material.

Addressing a meeting of consultants here on Tuesday, he said that government would recover all outstanding dues of the projects from the consultants, who failed to ensure quality work. `In grave situations, cases under the charges of blackmailing would also be registered against the consultants,` he said.

According to a handout, the chief minister termed appointment of consultants by the provincial gov-ernment departments a milestone, saying it would help to eliminate corruption and commission mafia in the construction sector.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Economic Affairs Rafaqatullah Babar, Additional Chief Secretary Khalid Pervez, administrative secretaries of national building departments and other authorities concerned were also present on this occasion.

Mr Khattak said that the basic agenda of PTI-led government was to free Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of corruption and nepotism. The successful implementation of the agenda, he added, would guarantee the supremacy of merit, law and justice in the province, ushering an era of progress and development.

Similarly, it will promote economic activities and create employment opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The induction of consultants, the chief minister said, was a new element in the government departments and the policy would benefit people in the longer run.

`Our government has big expectations from the consultants and our development schemes also experienced delayed start as we didernment departments a milestone, saying it would help to eliminate corruption and commission mafia in the construction sector.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Economic Affairs Rafaqatullah Babar, Additional Chief Secretary Khalid Pervez, administrative secretaries of national building departments and other authorities concerned were also present on this occasion.

Mr Khattak said that the basic agenda of PTI-led government was to free Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of corruption and nepotism. The successful implementation of the agenda, he added, would guarantee the supremacy of merit, law and justice in the province, ushering an era of progress and development.

Similarly, it will promote economic activities and create employment opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The induction of consultants, the chief minister said, was a new element in the government departments and the policy would benefit people in the longer run.

`Our government has big expectations from the consultants and our development schemes also experienced delayed start as we didnot want the continuation of the menace of commissions and the hard earned money of the poor to go to the pockets of few and make ourselves partner in their sins of loot and plunder,` said Mr Khattak.

He said that apart from taking part in the preparation of PC-I of development schemes, conducting site visits, determining rates, issuing tenders and ensuring timely and quality completion of work would be responsibility of the newly hired consultants. The consultants, he added, would also be responsible for the preparation of the bills of contractors and the disbursement of funds to them against their bills.

The chief minister said that contractors would not be required to pay visits to the accounts offices as the consultants would ensure timely disbursement of funds to them.

He said that government had paid market price for the construction works therefore no one would dare to compromise on the quality of the work.

Mr Khattak said that government departments would also have to guarantee timely release of funds for projects. The consultants should keep in view the availabili-ty of funds and should not start work till the release of the required funds for the schemes, he added.

The chief minister hoped that consultants would come up to the expectations of the government so that people could see difference between the schemes initiated during the previous and present governments. He said that induction of consultants would open new business avenues in addition to generating new opportunities for young engineers to prove their creative and artistic capabilities.

Mr Khattak said that besides the newly recruited engineers, the departments should also hire trainee engineers of Engineering University to provide them an opportunity of experience and learning.

The chief minister urged the consultants to prove that the provincial government had taken the right step.

Speaking on the occasion, the consultants appreciated the provincial government`s initiative and thanked the chief minister for providing them with an opportunity of delivering services. They assured the chief minister that they would come up to his expectations in the elimination of corruption.