LAHORE: A World Bank delegation, led by Country Director Rachid Benmessaoud, called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday and discussed with him implementation of various ongoing WB programmes as well as cooperation in several sectors.
Provincial Minister for Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Chief Secretary Nasir Khosa, Planning & Development chairman and secretaries of housing, finance, agriculture, health, irrigation and communication and works departments were also present.
Talking to the delegation, the chief minister said the World Bank had played a commendable role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan. Referring to the measures taken for the uplift of various sectors in Punjab, he said Pakistan was facing serious security problems, leaving a negative impact on the national economy.
He observed promotion of education was of utmost importance for the elimination of terrorism and militancy, so the Punjab government was giving top priority to the uplift of the education sector. He said setting up of the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, establishment of computer labs in more than 4,000 schools of the province and measures for the encouragement of teachers as well as talented students were leaving a positive impact on the education sector.
He said solid measures had also been taken for the promotion of vocational education and, for this purpose, TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council had been modernised and a skilled workforce was being produced in accordance with the market needs. He added about 60 per cent population of Pakistan comprised youth up to 25 years of age and training them in various skills could help them stand on their own feet.
He held the promotion of cottage industry was important to generate job opportunities for the skilled workers and claimed solid measures were being taken in this regard. He added Punjab Small Industries Cooperation was being made a vibrant and proactive institution. He said women formed 51 per cent population of the country and the target of the national development could not be achieved without their active participation in every sector of life.
Citing the example of Bangladesh, the chief minister said lakhs of males and females were working in its textile sector owing to which, despite having negligible cotton production, Bangladesh has a substantial textile export whereas Pakistan was lagging far behind in this sector. He claimed the government was trying to promote vocational education and cottage industry to ensure participation of the youth in the development process.
