LAHORE - Punjab Planning and Development Department with the technical assistance from Sub-National Governance Programm of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) organized a workshop to start the formulation of Punjab Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2016-17.
A wide array of senior planning officers from various departments including P&D, Health, Education, Livestock and Dairy Development, Mines and Mineral, Information & Culture, LG&CD, Punjab Economic Research Institute and others participated in the workshop.
The ADP was one of the key instruments of translating the government’s vision and mission of growth into development projects and schemes for its citizens. The workshop involved presenting Government of Punjab development priorities like Punjab Economic Growth Strategy (PEGS) 2014-2018 to departments, including health, education, agriculture, industries, etc.
Secretary P&D Department, Iftikhar Sahoo, introduced the participants to the changing planning paradigm and imperatives for ADP 2016-17. He also advised the participants to best utilize the opportunity to discuss issues with the Finance Department officials regarding operational issues and challenges.
Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, team leader for DFID programme, said that the workshop was a continuation of work that SNG had undertaken to improve planning and development capacities in Punjab. Faisal Rasheed, PFM Advisor, SNG described the commitments that were required from departments for successful execution of the growth strategy.
Secretary P&D emphasised the need to bring greater planning capacities in line-departments to identify and develop development projects.
The Secretary also urged the departments to identify development schemes which were of high priority.
Dr Ijaz Nabi Advisor to CM Punjab while discussing operational aspects of the PEGS 2014-18 emphasized that the design of the ADP should be one that attract the private investment.