Reforms in health, education sectors to benefit masses: Sharif

• Punjab CM says his government taking solid measures for progress of women

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that fundamental reforms are being introduced in the health and education sectors to provide better services to the masses.

The chief minister was chairing a meeting during which various proposals for provision of better facilities to people and increasing the capacity of government sectors came under discussion.

During the meeting, the research work of national and international economical experts for the betterment of social sectors and to increase resources and betterment of tax system in the province was also discussed.

The chief minister said the government was striving to provide maximum facilities of health and education to the people, adding that scholarships were being provided to deserving and intelligent students through the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund for higher education.

Sharif said the government had taken different steps for the improvement of e-governance in the province, and the performance of government sectors could also be improved through better utilisation of information technology. He said the recommendations from economical experts would help in the preparation of policy guidelines.

Separately, Sharif, while talking to MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik, said that Pakistani women were very talented and hard working and had proved their abilities in the various sectors. He said the Punjab government had taken solid measures for progress of women and to bring them into the national mainstream.

He said that women had been given 33 per cent representation on all decision-making boards and committees while their quota in government jobs had been increased from five per cent to 15 per cent. He also said that working hostels were being set up in various districts for benefit of working women.

Sharif further said that vocational training courses were also being conducted under Punjab Vocational Training Council for economic empowerment of women. He added that special centres were being established in the province for protection of rights of women and controlling violence against them.

The chief minister said that men and women would have to make collective efforts for transforming Pakistan into an Islamic welfare state in accordance with the principles of founders of the country and elimination of poverty and ignorance from society.