KABUL - Economy Minister Abdul Sattar Murad on Monday unveiled his ministry’s first 100-day plan aimed to evaluate the county’s overall economic situation, performance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and advisors besides other major activities.

Murad told reporters in Kabul a technological administrative system would be introduced and NGOs activities would be coordinated and examined during the period.

Under the plan budget for proposed projects and their efficiency would be analyzed and the financial and procurement procedures assessed, he said.

Other activities to be carried out as part of the 100-day plan included the creation of a high economic council and implementation and scrutiny of small economic projects.

Evaluation of poverty and the overall economic situation would be done as priority task because despite 13 years of development and massive amounts of money flowing into Afghanistan since 2001, the progress had been unsatisfactory, the minister said.

In the first stage, a technical committee would be formed and assigned with investigating factors behind increasing poverty and economic downfall, he said.

Murad said the proposed committee would compile a report which would be sent to the president for approval.

The economy minister said 36 percent of the country’s populations lived under the poverty line and annual income of people had declined to $780 while the economic growth during the last few years fell from 12 to 9 percent.

He said the assessment of the country’s economic situation would help identify factors causing economic downfall.

In the coming 100 day, economic programs for provinces such as Herat, Balkh, Kandahar and Bamyan would be chalked out, the minister said.

He said the first-ever meeting bringing together heads of 1,990 registered NGOs will be held tomorrow as part of the 100-day plan.

The economy minister said financial and procurement programs of the ministry would be strictly followed to ensure transparency and good governance.

He said unlimited advisors hired by the ministry would be examined and those unnecessary occupying posts would be dismissed.

He hoped the creation of a high economic council would help plan better economic projects, improve capacity of the ministry’s officials, coordination among the employees and better observation of small economic projects. (Pajhwok)