Sept 21 , 2015
News
WB country director meets Shahbaz
CM says special attention is being paid to uplift backward areas of Punjab
APPLAHORE - World Bank (WB) Country Director Rachid Benmessaoud held a farewell meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Monday.
Matters of mutual interests and ongoing programmes for uplift of social sectors were discussed during the meeting. The chief minister said that various programmes for development of social sectors are running successfully in Punjab with the cooperation of the WB. He said that revolutionary reforms introduced by the Punjab government for improvement of education, health and other social sectors are yielding far-reaching results.
He said that target has been fixed for increase in growth rate for raising the living standard of the masses and the government is following the policy of balanced development of urban and rural areas. “Special attention is being paid to the uplift of backward areas of the province,” he added. The chief minister said that maximum resources had been allocated for the districts of south Punjab than the ratio of population.
He said that Land Record Management Information System is being implemented in Punjab with the cooperation of the WB. “Since 60 per cent population of Pakistan comprises youth, the government has taken revolutionary measures for their empowerment”, he said. Moreover, he said that 50,000 youth are being imparted different skills in accordance with the market needs every year under Skills Development Programme.
He praised the WB for extending commendable cooperation for the construction of water reservoirs in north Punjab and said that its cooperation with regard to construction of small dams will highly be appreciated.
Benmessaoud said that Punjab government is taking effective measures for institutional reforms. He lauded the chief minister for efforts he made for the welfare and betterment of people of the province and his work for the uplift of social sectors is deeply appreciated. Punjab Minister for Finance Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Planning & Development chairman, Energy additional secretary and Finance secretary were also present on the occasion.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk