LAHORE - Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme for economic development of the province.
“Revolutionary reforms have been introduced for the uplift of health and other social sectors,” Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told the new Country Director of World Bank in Pakistan, Palchamuthu Illango, who called on him on Tuesday.
The CM said various programmes for the development of social sectors are successfully running in Punjab with the cooperation of World Bank. “Youth are an asset of the nation and special attention is being paid to imparting them various skills.
“To make youth skilful in accordance with the need of local and international market, a programme is being implemented with the cooperation of Punjab Skill Development Company and DFID.”
Shahbaz Sharif asked the World Bank to consider provision of assistance for quality skill development of five hundred thousand youth annually. He said targets have been fixed to increase the growth rate in the province for improving the living standard of the masses and no effort will be spared to increase the growth rate to 8 percent in Punjab till 2018.
It was agreed during the meeting that WB will extend its cooperation to Punjab for skill development, education, health, agriculture, irrigation and other sectors.
The Punjab government is implementing the policy of balanced development of urban and rural areas and development projects costing billions of rupees are being completed expeditiously in cities and rural areas.
Mr Palchamuthu Illango appreciated the measures taken by Shahbaz Sharif for the welfare of the masses. “World Bank will further promote interaction with Punjab government for socio economic development while cooperation will continue in the sector of skill development,” he said.
The Board of World Bank has appreciated citizen feedback programme in Punjab which is playing an important role in the provision of better services to the masses, he added.
Separately, the chief minister held meeting with PML-N Azad Jammu & Kashmir President Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider.
Raja Haider told the CM he was happy to see the rapid progress made by Punjab
Shahbaz Sharif said the public service is the pivot of politics of PML-N and the government is engaged in selfless service to the masses due to which people of Pakistan have complete confidence in the leadership of PML-N.
He said every effort is being made for the development of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the journey of progress and prosperity has started again.