Essential need: UN to help Punjab ensure food security

Shahbaz Sharif approves rules for the Safe City Authority

LAHORE:

The government and World Food Programme (WFP) are working on several projects to improve food security in the province, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.

He was talking to a delegation led by World Food Programme Pakistan Country Director Lola Castro.

The WFP officials and the government agreed to cooperate in food security, meeting of nutritional needs, elimination of hunger, training to cope with natural calamities and provision of technical assistance in the construction of modern silos for the protection of wheat reserves.

“Healthy diets are of vital importance, especially for women and children. The government is running a pilot project in south Punjab under a school feeding project. The WFP can provide cooperation in extending its scope. Children can also be saved from several diseases with the provision of better diet. The cooperation of the WFP in the effective implementation of training programmes in schools to cope with natural calamities will also be welcomed,” he said.

The chief minister said that under the School Safety Programme, training was being provided to teachers and students to deal with natural calamities. “The WFP has evolved recommendations about food security, elimination of hunger, better nutrition and construction of silos,” he said.

The chief minister issued instructions for setting up a committee, headed by the chief secretary, with regard to implementation of the WFP recommendations. “The Punjab government will work with the WFP in the future for the construction of modern silos for the protection of wheat reserves. The government wants to increase collaboration with the WFP. It can provide technical assistance to the provincial government in the storage of food, capacity-building of institutions, resource management, provision of hybrid seeds and other nutritional matters,” he said.

The chief minister said that construction of modern silos would help protect wheat reserves and curtail losses. He directed the departments concerned to maintain close contact with the WFP.

Safe Cities Project

The chief minister presided over a meeting of the Board of Punjab Safe Cities Authority. The meeting approved the rules for the authority.

Shahbaz said that the project was of vital importance for the protection of life and property of citizens and controlling crime.

Industrialisation

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting on Tuesday to review industrialisation strategy.

He said that industrialisation strategy was an important element of the growth strategy. “The government has evolved the industrialisation strategy for the promotion of investment and creation of job opportunities. Its implementation is the responsibility of the relevant government departments,” he said.

The chief minister said that ministers, secretaries and departments should make all out efforts for achieving industrialisation targets.

“The simplification of the process of carrying out business should be the top priority. Steps will have to be taken for making Punjab a business-friendly province,” he said.

The CM said that Punjab Investment Board would have to play an effective role for increasing investment in the province. He said that the Quaid-i-Azam Apparel Park project was an important step towards promotion of investment and it should be completed within the stipulated period.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2016.