Services sector introduced

With an allocation of Rs 500 million, the Punjab government has introduced a services sector to facilitate the private sector through reducing cost of doing businesses, promoting trade and investment by creating a business-friendly environment.
According to budget 2006-07 document, an amount of Rs 400 million will be spent for investment & commerce services while Rs 100 million will go to services.
The major strategic interventions in this sector are: capacity building of Commerce & Investment Department to research and policy analysis, private sector facilitation, trade promotion, promotion of WTO-related preparedness, information sharing and awareness creation regarding threats and opportunities of the liberalised trade regime, study on ways of improving investment and business climate and enhancing commercial opportunities and making Punjab an attractive investment destination.
Hospitality Institute Punjab is also proposed to be established to cater to the emerging needs of tourism services. Moreover, with enhanced budgetary allocations for human resource development, the provincial government has planned to focus on poverty alleviation. "From the base year 2001 till 2005, poverty in Punjab declined by 11 percent meaning thereby that seven million people moved out of the below-poverty line category", the sources said.
According to them, provision of extraordinary funds for education, agriculture and other social sectors was aimed solely at uplifting the standard of living of the common man and facilitating the masses. Provincial ministers, secretaries and all concerned have been asked to utilise their energies and resources for achieving the budget targets.
Meanwhile, an amount of Rs 5200 million has been allocated for water supply and sanitation programme in 2006-07, which will focus on provision of water supply and sanitation coverage to the communities, particularly in brackish and barani areas. As many as 376 water supply and sanitation schemes have been conceived during the year 2006-07. With focus on improving quality of life of the people, the provincial government is focusing on provision of safe drinking water and pollution free environment.
A special package of Rs 500 million is also being reflected in the next year''s MTDF under Chief Minister''s Programme for Rural Sanitation in the deprived areas.
It may be mentioned that a special project-Clean Drinking Water for all-has already been launched under which 3464 filtration plants, at a cost of Rs 4900 million will be installed in the province up to Union Council level by 2007.