Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that effective implementation of the development strategy for the provision of basic amenities and best services to the citizens is essential and such measures will have to be adopted immediately to facilitate the masses in their daily life.
He said that under the development strategy for increasing growth rate, every department will have to play an active role and take solid measures for the provision of excellent services to the people.
He said the policy of balanced development of urban and rural areas is an important element of the development strategy and mega projects have been completed under this policy in urban and rural areas. He said half of Pakistan’s population comprises women and such steps will have to be taken through development strategy as could result in empowerment of women so that they could join the mainstream of development. He said departments should build their capacity for the achievement of development targets. He said every department is now fully empowered and should take every necessary measures for achieving development targets.
He was presiding over a high-level meeting which reviewed the steps taken for speedy implementation of Punjab government’s development strategy 2018. The meeting decided to make the Punjab Economic Research Institute an autonomous institution. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that an effective monitoring mechanism is essential for implementation of the development strategy and steps will have to be taken for this purpose. He said promotion of economic activities will result in creation of jobs as well as investment opportunities.
He said effective measures are being taken for resolving energy crisis and elimination of terrorism. He said solution of energy crisis will result in two percent increase in growth rate.
Sharif said political and military leadership is on same page against terrorism and positive measures have been taken in Punjab under the National Action Plan. He said elimination of terrorism and energy crisis will result in increase in investment and creation of new job opportunities.
The chief minister said that an effective strategy will have to be evolved and implemented to meet the future requirements in view of the problems of population. He said achievement of targets is of vital importance for the development of agriculture and industrial sectors. He said that though education, health and other sectors have improved however there is still need for a lot of work. He said that youth are a precious asset of the country and development targets can be achieved through their empowerment. He said special attention would have to be paid for the empowerment of youth through skill development. He said preparation of a skilled workforce in accordance with local and foreign market needs is of paramount importance.
Sharif issued instructions for setting up a Council of Economists comprising experts and directed that departments concerned should set targets after planning. He said effective implementation of development strategy is essential. He said departments concerned will have to build their capacity and ensure achievement of the targets. He said every department should play an active role and spare no effort for ensuring that fruit of development strategy should reach the masses.
He said that Planning and Development Department will have to play an active role for the achievement of the targets set under development strategy. The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the measures taken for evolving development strategy for the future. He said collective efforts will have to be made for achieving the targets fixed under development strategy.
He further directed that work should be carried out with the best coordination for the provision of basic amenities to the masses. The Chairman Planning and Development gave a briefing on the measures taken for speedy implementation of development strategy 2018. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Muhammad Shafiq, Dr Farukh Javed, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Khawaja Salman Rafique, Advisor Dr Ijaz Nabi, secretaries of departments concerned, economists and senior officials attended the meeting.
‘Sawal Shehbaz Sharif Sai’ on Facebook: Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be online on social media website Facebook, on November 23. He will give direct answers to the questions of people through video message in online programme ‘Sawal Shehbaz Sharif Sai’.
People can ask questions from the Chief Minister on facebook.com/shehbazsharif. Sharif said that feedback is an important source of his guidance and he is thankful to the masses. Sharif said that he receives messages from a number of people on Facebook that they want to directly contact him. He said that people can ask questions and share their opinions and problems pertaining to their village, city and district on his Facebook page.