Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over the first meeting of provincial steering committee on urban development here Wednesday. The meeting which reviewed Punjab Urban Reforms Roadmap aimed at further improving urban facilities. Recommendations by World Bank experts on promotion of economic activities and civic facilities in urban sector were presented. Punjab government and World Bank agreed to enhance cooperation in urban sector.
Addressing the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister said that Punjab government and the World Bank have strong cooperation for improvement in public sector. He said Punjab government has appreciated cooperation extended by the World Bank in urban development adding many projects for the provision of basic facilities in Punjab were continuing with the cooperation of World Bank. He said Punjab government has invested billions of rupees for improvement of infrastructures in cities.
He pointed solid waste management companies have been established in five big cities of Punjab. He dilated Punjab government is also working on a comprehensive program for the preparation of standardized and skilled manpower and thousands of youngsters have been provided skills under the skills development program. He said by 2018, two million youth of Punjab will be imparted skills training.
Shahbaz Sharif said that meeting of Provincial Steering Committee will be held regularly every month and he will personally preside over its meetings. World Bank Country Director said that World Bank is forwarding program of improvement of governance in five cities of Punjab and preparing a new program worth $100 million for urban development. He said a team of urban development experts will arrive in Punjab in next two weeks and prepare a strategy for urban development with the cooperation of experts of Punjab government.
WB Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan., urban development experts of WB attended the meeting, while Senior Director WB Ede Jorege Ijjasz Vasquez participated in the meeting via video link from Washington. Provincial Ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Syed Haroon Sultan, Adviser Umer Saif, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, and other concerned officials were also present on the occasion.