Director National Security, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Britain, Jonathan Allen Wednesday met Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Matters regarding promotion of cooperation between Pakistan and Britain in anti-terrorism, reformation of police system and training of police were discussed in the meeting. Director Britain’s National Security Jonathan Allen commended the measures taken under National Action Plan for elimination of terrorism and said the Punjab government has taken effective measures in this regard and is moving in the right direction. He also appreciated the way Punjab government led by CM Sharif is using information technology in different sectors including education, health and law and order. He said the Punjab government has taken exemplary measures for the promotion of information technology and the steps it has taken in different sectors especially education, health and law and order through information technology are extraordinary as compared to other developing countries. The British Director on National Security also congratulated Sharif over the report of Transparency International regarding decrease in corruption and transparent policies of the government and said that according to report of Transparency International, the government has displayed good performance with regard to controlling corruption over which Pakistani leadership deserves credit. He said that Pakistan is moving in the right direction with regard to implementation of National Action Plan and the Pakistani leadership has taken commendable steps for elimination of terrorism and controlling corruption. Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif while speaking on the occasion welcomed the cooperation of British government in safe cities project.
Separately, Sharif presided over a high level meeting, here Wednesday which reviewed the progress towards achievement of the targets of agriculture development fixed under development strategy 2018. The meeting decided to hold an agriculture conference for devising an effective agri development strategy besides it gave approval to various steps for the development of agriculture and increase in per acre production. Addressing the meeting, Sharif said that there is a need to move effectively on development strategy 2018. He said that agriculture, livestock and dairy farming are closely linked and development of these sectors can help resolve such problems like poverty and unemployment. He said that time has come to take practical measures for the promotion of agriculture, livestock and dairy farming. He said that per acre yield can be increased through provision of agri machinery and other agri implements to cultivators at subsidized rates. He said that there is a need to make investment in the purchase of agri machinery for increasing productive capacity and promotion of modern agri farming. The chief minister said that internship of students of agri universities on agri farms is a splendid programme and a number of such students should be increased.