Finance minister boasts of speedy completion of Punjab welfare projects

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Provincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that financial discipline of Punjab government in the speedy completion of mega public welfare projects was a role model for other provinces.

She said that foreign investors were taking keen interest in investment in Punjab due to good governance, transparency and high standard of development projects. She said that other provinces of Pakistan were taking guidance from financial policies and measures of Punjab government. She said that platforms like NFC are playing an important role in the promotion of mutual contact between provinces and solution of collective problems.

She expressed these views while talking to a German delegation comprising Dr Heming, Dr Christina, Almant Knop, Dr Juergen Zoll and Dr Julia during a meeting at Civil Secretariat on Friday.

The minister informed the delegation that the government was setting solid targets for stability of economy and that effective steps were being taken for this purpose. She said that youth was the main workforce of the province, and added that in order to ensure proper utilisation of human resource, full attention is being paid to its technical and vocational training and skills are being introduced which are in demand in international markets.

She said that government was facilitating investors and ensuring their complete protection. Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha further told the delegation that power sector, education, health and agriculture were the top priorities of the government with regard to investment. She said that government was also concentrating on solar energy, gas and coal power for overcoming energy crisis. She said that China was extending full assistance in foreign investment.

In response to a question, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that Punjab government had introduced necessary amendments in laws for women empowerment. She said that educational scholarships as well as interest-free loans were being given to girls and women. She said that besides free education, monthly scholarships are also being extended to girls of rural areas for motivating them to get an education.

Referring to reforms in finance department, the minister said that Finance Department had evolved a reforms strategy with the assistance of donors for running its financial affairs in a better manner.

She said that positive reforms have been introduced in taxation, finance and budget policy due to which development growth rate of Punjab has increased by 31 per cent in the current financial year while the rate of tax recovery has enhanced by 45 per cent. She said that government was utilising all available resources for raising the living standard of the common man.