NewsJune 04, 2017
Shahbaz says outsourcing has produced positive results
Punjab to outsource 10,000 more schoolsLAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said he believed that the outsourcing had produced good results and a plan was prepared to outsource another 10,000 schools.
Shahbaz said the Punjab government had outsourced 4,300 schools, showing poor performance, due to which the number of students in these institutions had increased.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting lasting two and a half hours to review the progress on Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap.
He said the Punjab government had earmarked record funds (Rs 345 billion) for education sector in the next budget, which were Rs.33 billion more than the amount earmarked in the outgoing financial year.
Exceptional hard work was needed to achieve the enrolment target in 2018, he added, while citing the various initiatives launched to attract students and improve the facilities at schools.
The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to fill all vacant posts in Schools Education Department.
He said the scope of hotline, established by Punjab Information Technology Board, to get feedback of parents would be expanded to 36 districts. The meeting reviewed the proposal to open community schools to enhance enrolment rate.
Sir Michael Barber of the United Kingdom praised the Punjab government for making exceptional progress to achieve the targets set to increase education standards.
The DFID head in Pakistan, Joanna Reid, said Shahbaz had made excellent utilisation of resources and the Punjab government was moving in the right direction. Reid also had a separate meeting with Shahbaz Sharif and discussed ongoing programmes in education, health, skill development and other sectors.
She congratulated the chief minister for presenting an excellent budget and said DFID would continue cooperation with the Punjab government in various fields.
The chief minister also held a meeting to review the under construction gas-powered power plants and ordered finalising the necessary arrangements at the earliest. He said a separate company Punjab Thermal Power Limited should be formed for implementing the projects. Separately, the chief minister told a meeting attended by top provincial officials that professionals enhanced performance of institutions and measures should be taken to hire best human resource for various institutions.
On the other hand, Shahbaz said the record funds (Rs 263.22) billion had been earmarked in the budget for health sector which reflected the government’s determination to provide best medical facilities to the people. Chairing a meeting to review Health Sector Reforms Programme, he expressed satisfaction over the progress and the system was being improved through a policy of punishment and reward.
He praised DC Irqam Tariq and MS Dr Shehnaz for improving the condition of DHQ Hospital Sheikhupura. He announced a reward of Rs1 million for Dr Shehnaz and her team.
During the review meeting, Shahbaz commended the Health Department for achieving target of the immunisation campaign. The chief minister said a modern system had been evolved for purchase, transportation and distribution of medicines, which would eliminate the business of spurious medicines and embezzlement.
Citing various steps taken to provide quality free medicines and modern services at hospitals, he said the reform process had yielded positive results. The chief minister said swift measures should be taken to overcome shortage of medical officers and consultants in hospitals.
Sir Michael Barber congratulated Shahbaz for presenting a balanced budget and allocating huge resources for health sector. Similar views were expressed the DFID Pakistan chief and the UNICEF representative.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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