PM seeks to build world-class talent pool

Aurangzeb to head body to propose steps to retain capable workforce

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the need to focus on attracting and retaining top talent was as urgent and important as focusing on investments in the country.

“Businesses want to invest in places where talent is; where politics and policies are stable; and where the system works,” he said while chairing a meeting on ways to create a more capable workforce that is able to deliver the government’s policy programme effectively, and also is founded on the principles of impartiality and recruitment on merit, PM Office media wing said in a press release

The prime minister appointed a committee under the chairmanship of finance minister to seek and firm up propositions in the policy to enhance and clarify work pass framework currently in vogue in ministries to better support Pakistan’s need for talent with the directions to submit its findings at the earliest.

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Minister for Finance and Revenue Federal Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Dr Musadiq Malik, Ahad Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Sardar Awais Leghari, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Muhammad Jehanzeb, Minister of State Shaza Fatima and high-level officials attended the meeting.

“Pakistan must build a world-class talent pool because this is an age where talent makes all the difference to a nation’s success,” he observed.

The meeting noted a dearth of technical input at policy-making levels and emphasised its need, which is imperative if the civil service is to develop new skills, improve its management of big projects and adapt to the demands of a digital age.

The participants of the meeting highlighted barriers to appointing people from outside such as long timescales, processes that prevented a proper search for the best candidates and pay inflexibility that made it all difficult to attract the best talent, particularly in areas of skills shortages.

French envoy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed the need for working together to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and France, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.

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The prime minister, in a meeting with Ambassador of France in Islamabad Nicolas Galey, who paid a courtesy call on him, invited the French companies to invest in Pakistan. He welcomed the initiative of the French side to bring corporate leaders from top French companies on a visit to Pakistan soon.

The prime minister, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and SAPM Tariq Fatemi, also shared that stabilisation of the economy was on top of the government’s agenda. The ambassador handed over a congratulatory letter from French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz on his re-election.

The prime minister thanked the French leadership for the message of greetings. He said that Pakistan enjoyed friendly and cordial ties with France and, although the relationship had undergone a difficult phase a few years ago, the two countries were now working together to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz fondly recalled his numerous interactions with French President Emmanuel Macron, in particular their meetings on the sidelines of UNGA Session in 2022, as well as on the margins of the Paris Conference on New Financing Pact on Climate Change in June 2023.

He also lauded President Macron’s valuable contribution through virtual participation at the Geneva Conference on Resilient Pakistan in January 2023. The prime minister re-iterated his invitation to President Macron to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his earliest convenience.

The situation in Gaza was also discussed in the meeting and the prime minister appreciated French peace efforts in the region. The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed. The French ambassador thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for receiving him and briefed him on the latest developments on the bilateral front.

He said a French delegation was expected to visit Pakistan for discussions on bilateral cooperation. In addition to strengthening of bilateral ties, he said France was keen to work closely with Pakistan in multilateral forums, including the United Nations.