Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presiding over a meeting. PHOTO: NNI
Effective implementation of the development strategy for the provision of basic amenities to citizens is essential, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.
He was presiding over a meeting that reviewed steps taken for the implementation of the government’s development strategy for 2018.
Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Muhammad Shafiq, Dr Farukh Javed, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique and Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr Ijaz Nabi attended the meeting.
“Under the development strategy, every department will have to play an active role for increasing the growth rate and take solid measures for the provision of services to the people. The policy of balanced development of urban and rural areas is an important element of the growth strategy. Mega projects have been completed under this policy in both urban and rural areas,” he said.
He said that women comprised half of the country’s population. “Steps should be taken to empower women so that they can join the mainstream of development. “Departments should build their capacity for the achievement of development targets. Every department is fully empowered and should take the necessary measures for achieving the development targets,” he said.
The meeting decided to make the Punjab Economic Research Institute an autonomous institution.
The chief minister said that an effective monitoring mechanism was essential for the implementation of the development strategy.
He said that the promotion of economic activities would result in the creation of jobs as well as investment opportunities. “Effective measures are being taken to resolve the energy crisis and for elimination of terrorism. The solution of energy crisis will result in a two per cent increase in the growth rate,” the CM said.
Shahbaz Sharif said that political and military leadership were on the same page against terrorism and positive measures had been taken in the Punjab under the National Action Plan. “Elimination of terrorism and energy crisis will result in an increase in investment and creation of new job opportunities,” he said.
The chief minister said that an effective strategy would have to be evolved and implemented to meet future requirements in view of the increasing population. “The achievement of targets is of vital importance for the development of agriculture and industrial sectors. Performance of the Education and Health Departments has improved. However, there is still a need for a lot of work. Youth are a precious asset and development targets can be achieved by empowering them,” he said.
The chief minister said that special attention would have to be paid to skills development. “Raising a skilled workforce in accordance with local and foreign market needs is of paramount importance,” he said.
He issued instructions for setting up a council of economists.
He said that every department should play an active role and spare no effort for ensuring that fruits of development reached the masses. “The Planning and Development Department will have to play an active role for the achievement of the targets set under the development strategy,” he said.
The chief minister appreciated the performance of Dr Ijaz Nabi and the Planning and Development Board chairman.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2015.
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