Promotion of economic activities to increase job opportunities:CM

LAHORE, Nov 22 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said promotion of economic activities will result in creation of jobs as well as investment opportunities in the country.
Presiding over a meeting which reviewed the steps taken for speedy implementation of Punjab government’s development strategy 2018, he said effective implementation of
the development strategy for the provision of basic amenities and best services to people was essential.
He said under the development strategy for increasing growth rate every department would have to play an active role and take solid measures for the provision of excellent services to the people. He said the policy of balanced development of urban and rural areas was an important element of the development strategy.Half of Pakistan’s population comprise women and such steps would have to be taken through development strategy as
which could result in empowerment of women so that they could join the mainstream of development, he added.
He said that departments should build their capacity for the achievement of development targets adding that an effective monitoring mechanism was essential for implementation of the development strategy.
He said that effective measures were being taken for
resolving energy crisis and elimination of terrorism and the
solution of energy crisis would result in two percent increase
in growth rate.
Shehbaz Sharif said that political and military
leadership was on one page against terrorism and positive
measures have been taken in Punjab under National Action Plan.
He said that elimination of terrorism and energy crisis
will result in increase in investment and creation of new job
opportunities.
The chief minister said an effective strategy will
have to be evolved and implemented to meet the future
requirements in view of the problems of population.
He said achievement of targets was of vital
importance for the development of agriculture and industrial
sectors.
He said special attention would have to paid for
empowering youth through skill development adding that
preparation of a skilled workforce in accordance with local
and foreign market needs was of paramount importance.
Shehbaz Sharif issued instructions for setting up a
Council of Economists comprising experts and directed that
departments concerned should set targets after sectoral
planning.
He said the Planning & Development Department would have
to play an active role for the achievement of targets set
under development strategy.
The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the
measures taken for evolving development strategy for the
future and appreciated the performance of Dr. Ijaz Nabi and
Chairman Planning & Development and said collective
efforts would have to be made for achieving the targets fixed
under development strategy.
He further directed that work should be carried out with
the best coordination for the provision of basic amenities to
the masses.
Chairman Planning & Development gave a briefing on the
measures taken for speedy implementation of development
strategy 2018.
The meeting decided to make Punjab Economic Research
Institute an autonomous institution.
Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Muhammad Shafiq, Dr.
Farukh Javed, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Kh. Salman Rafique,
Advisor Dr. Ijaz Nabi, secretaries of concerned departments,
economists and senior officials attended the meeting.