Clear-cut strategy for reforms underlined

Speakers at Policy Dialogue said that reforms in Punjab bureaucracy should be focused on developmental missions. They also said that there should be a clear-cut strategy for reforms and there should be continuity in the policies. They said that reforms should be only helpful when there is a rule of law in the country.
The Policy Dialogue A Leaner Government to Improve Service Delivery was organised by Centre For Public Policy Forman Christian College University (FCCU), Department For International Development (DFID) and Technical Assistance Management Agency (TAMA) on Wednesday. They also said that each reform should be according to the current social environment. They said that issue of reform is related to political will.
The seminar was addressed by Secretary Schools Education Punjab Aslam Kambooh, Secretary Irrigation Punjab Rab Nawz, Director Centre For Public Policy & Governance Dr Saeed Shafqat, Former MPA S A Hamid and Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui and Political Analyst Shafqat Mahmood.
Briefing the audience about the reforms in provincial civil service they said that according to the proposals submitted to the chief Secretary Punjab there will be 21 departments instead of 38. He said after the abolition of Concurrent List Under the 18th Amendment, there will be additional functions performed by provinces. He stressed the need for establishing a local government structure, which sets the foundation of transparent and accountable system. Punjab should improve the way it works to deal with these additional challenges. The benefits of the recommendations proposed by TAAMA and DFID includes enhanced sectoral policy co-ordination. Government should focus on private sectors involvement for the improvement of service delivery. Shafqat said that governments role should be focused on releasing additional funds for public services, improved planning co-ordination and control.
PML-N MNA Engineer Khurrram Dastgir while briefing the audience about the reforms in education sector said that public wants functional schools in their areas. He said that the biggest challenge faced in education sector is rural urban divide. He also said that teachers want to be posted in rural areas.
He said that CM Punjab is committed with the cause of education. He also said that Punjab Government has recruited 37,000 teachers on merit. Speaking on Public Policy For Sustainable Economic Growth Professor Lahore University of Management Sciences Dr Ijaz Nabi said that government should focus on manufacturing sector and encourage this sector for creation of jobs in the country. Governance specialist at Asian Development Bank Raza Ahmed spoke on Avoiding Duplication for Enhanced Social Protection.