Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme for speedy economic development of the province and revolutionary reforms have been introduced for the uplift of health and other social sectors. He said that various programmes for the development of social sectors are successfully running in Punjab with the co-operation of World Bank.
He said that youth are an asset of the nation and special attention is being paid to imparting them various skills. The Chief Minister said that in order to make youth skilful in accordance with the need of local and international market, a programme is being implemented with the co-operation of Punjab Skill Development Company and DFID. He asked World Bank to consider provision of assistance for quality skill development of five lakh youth annually.
He was talking to new Country Director of World Bank in Pakistan Palchamuthu Illango, who met him, here Tuesday. Matters of mutual interest and the ongoing projects for the development of social sector were discussed in the meeting while it was agreed to promote co-operation between World Bank and Punjab for skill development, education, health, agriculture, irrigation and other sectors. Shahbaz while talking to the Country Director of World Bank that targets have been fixed to increase the growth rate in the province for improving the living standard of the masses and no effort will be spared to increase the growth rate to 8 percent in Punjab till 2018.
He said that government is implementing the policy of balanced development of urban and rural areas and development projects costing billions of rupees are being completed expeditiously in cities and rural areas. He said that a target has been set to impart training of quality skill development to 20 lakh youth till 2018. He said that a number of programmes are being implemented for the empowerment of youth in the province. The CM said that thousands of youth have been made skilful in accordance with the market needs through Skill Development Programme while lakhs of youth will be imparted such training during next two and a half years.
He said that the target of provision of scholarships to one lakh talented but deserving students through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund has been achieved while another one lakh student will be given educational scholarships during next one year. Shahbaz said that government has introduced revolutionary reforms for increasing resources of the province while special attention is being paid to the capacity building of government institutions. He said that e-governance has been promoted in the Punjab through information technology.
The CM said that besides terrorism, Pakistan is also facing the challenge of shortage of electricity. He said that effective measures have been taken with national consensus for elimination of terrorism while work is in progress on several projects to overcome shortage of electricity. He said that a number of power projects will be producing thousands of megawatt electricity till the end of 2017. He said that the growth rate can be increased through removing the shortage of energy; therefore, government is taking all possible steps for resolving energy crisis.
The new Country Director of World Bank in Pakistan Palchamuthu Illango said that splendid measures have been taken in Punjab for the welfare of the masses under dynamic leadership of CM Shahbaz Sharif. He said that World Bank will further promote interaction with Punjab government for socio economic development while co-operation will continue in the sector of skill development. He said that Board of World Bank has appreciated citizen feedback programme in Punjab which is playing an important role in the provision of better services to the masses. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab, more work has been undertaken in Punjab as compared to other provinces.
He said that CM Shahbaz Sharif has made commendable efforts for the welfare and betterment of the people of Punjab especially for the uplift of social sector. Provincial Minister Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Dr Ijaz Nabi, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Finance, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board and concerned officials were present on the occasion.
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