Growth strategy: Govt focusing on speedy economic recovery, says CM

World Bank country director meets Shahbaz

LAHORE: The government is pursuing a comprehensive programme of speedy economic development, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday.

He was talking to World Bank Country Director in Pakistan Patchamutha Illango. Enhancing cooperation in education, health, irrigation and skill development sectors between the Punjab government and the World Bank came under discussion.

“A comprehensive programme is being implemented in the Punjab to make youth skillful according to the needs of local and foreign markets. The Punjab government wants to further expand the scope of the programme and the cooperation of World Bank will be welcomed in this regard,” Sharif said.

Following the meeting, a senior Punjab government official told The Express Tribune that World Bank President Jim Yong King would visit Pakistan next month.

“He will sign several memoranda of understandings (MoUs) with the Punjab government for the skill development of youth in the province,” he said.

“The Dubai Expo will be held in 2020. The FIFA World Cup is in Qatar in 2022. There is a huge demand for Pakistani skill and non-skilled labour in these two countries. Punjab can send skilled manpower to these countries. Keeping this in view, the MoUs will be signed with World Bank to impart skill training to youth and send them to these two countries as skilled labourers,” he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2016.