PM calls for comprehensive plan for Karachi

Asks authorities to work in consultation with provincial, local govts

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has advised authorities to chalk out a comprehensive plan for Karachi in consultation with and support of the provincial and local governments.

“Development of backward regions is the government’s top priority. We need to promote knowledge economy for economic development so that youngsters can utilise their capabilities to the full.

“In addition, we must promote the agricultural sector and tap its potentials through innovation and introduction of modern technology,” Imran Khan said while presiding over a high level meeting of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2019-20.

Minister for Planning Khusro Bakhtiar, Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Secretary Finance Younus Dhaga, Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan and others were also present at the session. Bakhtiar presented a briefing on various ongoing projects in the PSDP for the next fiscal year.

The PM was informed that the authorities are giving special attention to promotion of the knowledge economy, agricultural and energy sectors, uplifting of less developed areas especially Balochistan, southern Punjab and tribal areas in line with the government’s vision.

Imran Khan advised the authorities to chalk out a comprehensive plan for Karachi through collaboration of the provincial and the local governments. He called for expediting projects under the PSDP and lamented that delays in works led to increased cost of the projects.

“Uncompleted and non-functional projects do not help people in the real sense. Pay special attention to completion and functioning of all PSDP projects,” the prime minister advised the planning minister.