The two-day Punjab Economic Forum 2017 concluded here in the provincial metropolis on Tuesday. Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafique Rajwana speaking at the closing ceremony said. He said, "It is heartening to see a good number of economists and economic experts under one roof discussing the economic growth in Punjab to accelerate the pace of progress resultantly benefiting people in the province. We must learn from the extensive experience of the experts present here so that the true objective of organising this forum can be achieved. I congratulate the planning and development department and the Urban Unit on successful execution of the program."
The closing ceremony was also attended by Punjab Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha. Dr Waqar Masood, former federal secretary for finance, commended the successful Organization of Punjab Economic Forum and stressed on the need of political ownership of economic equity projects so that the economic progress of the province is directed to right path.
The two-day event brought together a number of international and national experts discussing six various themes in six sessions respectively. Inclusive economic growth, natural endowments, human and skills development, financing public goods and public private partnership, industrial and urban development and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor were discussed as key themes in the forum. International speakers included Miss Abla Amawi (UNDP), Dr Anthony Chiu (Philippine), Dr Athula Senaratne (Sri Lanka), Muhammad Abdul Khalid (Kuala Lampur), Hassan Mohtashami (UNFPA), Dr Nauman Majid (ILO, Switzerland), Illango Phatachamutu (Country Director World Bank), Michele Clara (UNIDO, Austria), Professor Li Xiguang (Beijing), Miss Janet Salem (UNEP), Dr Fahad Khan (Asian Development Bank), Dr Martin Lau (LUMS), Robert N Webb (Pakistan Extractive Working Group) and Dr Murtaza Haider (Ryerson University, Canada) besides national panellists of extraordinary profiles.