Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the Punjab government is pursuing a comprehensive programme of speedy economic development in the province.
He expressed these views while talking to Country Director of World Bank in Pakistan Patchamutha Illango who called on him on Monday.
Enhancing cooperation in education, health, irrigation, skill development and other sectors between Punjab government and World Bank was discussed. Speaking on the occasion, he said that revolutionary reforms have been made for the uplift of health, education, skill development and other social sectors. He said that the programmes for the development of social sectors are continuing successfully with the cooperation of World Bank in Punjab.
The chief minister said that youth are our precious asset and special attention is being paid to the provision of quality skill development. He said that a comprehensive programme is being implemented in Punjab for making youth skillful according to the needs of local and foreign market. However, the Punjab government wants to further expand the scope of this programme and the cooperation of World Bank will be welcomed in this regard, he added.
Sharif said that a large part of country’s population consists of youth and we have to change the challenge of empowering youth into opportunity by providing quality skill to them. He said provision of resources for empowering youth is a useful investment and the Punjab government is marching towards right direction in this regard. He said provision of skill and imparting training to the youth according to market demand is essential. That is why, the Punjab government is enhancing the capacity-building of the vocational training institutes and various programmes are being implemented for empowering youth in Punjab, he added. The chief minister said that thousands of youth have been made skillful according to market requirements through skill development programme. He said that more youth will be made skillful according to the needs of local and foreign market during next two and a half years. He said that not only the capacity-building of technical vocational training institutions is being enhanced but also the syllabus is also being harmonized according to modern demand so that the youth completing training could get honourable jobs. He said the target of educational scholarships to 100,000 talented and deserving students through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund has been achieved. He said the Punjab government has introduced revolutionary reforms for enhancing resources of the province. He said attention is being paid to enhancing the capacity-building of government institutions. He said that e-governance has been promoted through information technology in the province.
Speaking on the occasion, Country Director of World Bank in Pakistan Patchamutha Illango said that the dynamic and committed leadership of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken excellent steps for the welfare of the people in Punjab. He assured that the collaboration in socio-economic development will be further increased with Punjab government. Advisor Dr Ijaz Nabi, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, Chairman Planning and Development and officials concerned were also present on the occasion.
