Comprehensive reforms to improve functioning of public departments: minister

Education minister says an effective monitoring system will help achieve departmental targets

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Schools Education Dr Murad Raas said on Thursday a comprehensive reforms programme has been launched by the provincial government to improve the organisational capacity of the public sector departments.

He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held to review the five-year performance of Punjab Public Management Reforms Programme. He said the Punjab Public Management Reforms Programme has been launched in collaboration with the World Bank to improve health education, agriculture and other sectors.

The minister said improved governance, accountability process as well as the efforts made to ensure institutional transparency would help improve the performance of government departments. “Similarly, an effective monitoring system of health and education departments will help achieve the departmental targets along with the effective implementation of ongoing schemes at the grassroots,” the minister said. “The PTI government wants to promote and develop the social sector on modern lines to improve the quality of life of the people and resources are being utilized to achieve the objective.”

Dr Raas said the schools education department was introducing different reforms by implementing e-governance to achieve the reforms agenda of the government. He said organised information management system was being introduced in the department and all the information would be available with just one click.

“The capacity of the teachers is also being enhanced. Children of low-income families, particularly the girls, are being encouraged to acquire education,” he said. “The students are the symbol of our bright future and quality education would help to achieve the development goals, he added.

P&D Chairman Habibur Rehman Gillani and others also addressed on the occasion.