Cooperation: World Bank to help create jobs

CM says 2 million youths will be trained in various skills under Development Strategy-2018

LAHORE:

The World Bank and the provincial government agreed on Friday to work on a skill-development programme to create jobs. For the purpose, a framework will be formulated with the cooperation of a World Bank consortium.

“Draft of the framework should be presented at the earliest,” Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told a meeting on Friday. He said skill development would help the country’s youth get jobs.

The chief minister said two million youngsters would be trained in various skills under the Development Strategy-2018.

World Bank Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan said that apart from other social sectors, cooperation in skill development would continue.

Provincial Ministers Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Rana Mashhood Ahmed and Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chief Minister’s Advisers Khwaja Salman Rafique and Ijaz Nabi, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and the  Planning and Development Board chairman attended the meeting.

Pakistan-Malaysia ties

A delegation of investors, led by Malaysian Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi, called on the chief minister on Friday. Pakistam-Malaysia relations and cooperation in trade and economic sectors were discussed.

Participants of the meeting agreed to enhance cooperation in livestock and halal food sectors.

The chief minister congratulated the Malaysian minister on the launch of Malindo Air’s flight operations to Pakistan. He said the launch of flight operations would promote trade and economic activity as well as tourism.

He said the business environment in the Punjab was conducive for investment. He said the provincial government was cooperating with foreign investors.

“Malaysian investors should benefit from investment opportunities in the province. They will be provided all-out support in this regard,” Sharif said.

Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif to Kuala Lumpur.

Industries Minister Muhammad Shafiq, the Pakistani high commissioner to Malaysia, the transport secretary, the industries secretary and the Punjab Investment Board chairman were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.