The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has launched a five-year (2022-27) project approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
The initiative comprises special development initiatives for the 20 poorest districts across Pakistan and its estimated cost is Rs40 billion on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the federal and provincial governments.
“This is the first-of-its-kind project in the economic history of Pakistan where the federal government is undertaking national intervention to uplift the poorest districts and address the disparity in economic development,” said Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal.
Chairing a meeting, he highlighted that “during our last tenure, we completed the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey with the help of the United Nations Development Programme, which for the first time mapped poverty at the district level across the country”.
Based on scores in the MPI survey, the selected 20 districts include 11 districts from Balochistan, five from Sindh, three from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and one from Punjab.
Many of these districts have been affected significantly by the recent flood disaster, especially in Balochistan and Sindh.
The project aims to promote inclusive growth and equitable development through targeted investments in infrastructure and human capital development in the poorest districts.
The primary pillar of the project is investment in human capital development, especially in young people and women.
Aligned with the Pakistan Vision 2025 and the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030, the project aims to make a significant contribution to reducing regional inequality and strengthening national integration and harmony.
The project is part of the Youth Development Programme launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month. Other initiatives under the programme include 2,000 internships for young engineers, 250 Mini-Sports Complexes, Pakistan Innovation Fund and 75 National Top Talent Scholarships.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2022.
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