Ahsan Iqbal hell-bent on women development

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“Every country which has shown miraculous development during the last few decades has shown four pre requisitions. Firstly there was political stability and continuity of policies. Secondly, they had a clear and focused economic vision. Thirdly, their growth agenda was centered on people’s development focusing on health, education and other social development of the people and lastly there was peace and security in these countries.”

Human resource and social development is the first pillar of Pakistan Vision 2025 strategy and government is committed in bringing women into the mainstream of development through interventions in social, economic, legal and political areas, said Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Professor Ahsan Iqbal while addressing “South Asian Conference on Women, Work and Poverty”, organized by Social Policy and Development Centre and supported by Norwegian Government on Thursday.

“Prime Minister has mandated that at least 50 percent of the financing of the self employment program must go to women,” the minister said.

He that every country which showed miraculous development during the last few decades, including China, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, have shown four pre requisitions.

“Firstly there was political stability and continuity of policies. Secondly, they had a clear and focused economic vision. Thirdly, their growth agenda centered around people’s development focusing on health, education and other social development of the people and lastly there was peace and security in these countries,” he said.

Iqbal said the government of PML-N under the leadership of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was committed in making Pakistan a fast growing economy in Asia by creating an environment conducive for development.

Bringing peace and stability, not only within the country but in the whole region so that economic growth and inclusive development can be achieved, is a priority, he remarked.

The minister said, “We need to do research for evidence based policymaking but there should be a clear link with development agenda.”

He said a “National Research Agenda Conference” is being organised under Higher Education Commission soon in order to formulate a research agenda for the next decade.

The purpose of the conference is to finalise national research agenda in consultation with stakeholders to align knowledge base with the development agenda relevant to Pakistan Vision 2025 goals.