LAHORE: The World Bank (WB) on Friday presented the proposal of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to focus on four sectors and good governance in Punjab.
According to details, a consultative meeting on the World Bank Partnership Framework (WBPF) was organized at Planning and Development (P&D) Complex, in which representatives of all administrative departments of Punjab, as well as WB officials and federal government representatives, participated.
The purpose of this session was to discuss Punjab’s development priorities for the next five years and to gather input from the Punjab government in areas where the WB could provide assistance.
During the session, Chief Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister Jawad Rafique Malik, additional chief secretary (South), Punjab P&D chairman, Punjab P&D secretary, Power Sector managing director, and the secretaries for the departments of agriculture, communications and works, primary and secondary healthcare, specialized healthcare, industries, livestock, education, environment, and irrigation, presented an overview of their respective departments.
The P&D Board Joint Chief Economist Dr Aman Ullah presented Punjab’s economic growth strategies, government’s interventions and economic growth landscape in Punjab.
WB Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine presented the proposed CPF, under which the WB will focus on four key areas and improved governance. He outlined the 5Gs; namely, girls and boys education, growing health, green and clean Pakistan, growth that is inclusive, and the aforementioned improved governance.
According to the details, efficiency will be used to increase resources for fostering economic growth and techniques and technology will be improved. For economic growth, address price volatility, quality of inputs and credit provision will be increased.
The relevance and quality of extension and support services, product quality as per international requirements for export with special focus on agriculture and livestock, will also be increased.
According to the strategic interventions of the framework, to enable services sector growth, the regulatory quality for efficient private sector operations will be improved, whereas the cost of transaction for efficient markets will be decreased. Similarly, the wholesale and retail markets will be modernized through interventions in domestic commerce.
In order to promote Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) led economic growth, the loan and grants programs will be started for entrepreneurship and self-employment. Furthermore, 2.5 million graduates will be trained in five years, and institutional strengthening will be done through the efforts of the Punjab Skills Development Authority (PSDA) and Pak Society For Trainings And Awareness (PSTA).
Similarly, gender economic empowerment will be achieved through inclusion and various programs.
To develop emerging areas, the quality of life in key cities will be improved through the provision of infrastructure and the new local government will be supported in capacity development.
Moreover, the independent administrative units for south Punjab will be supported for regional equalization and potential in renewable energy will also be supported through on-grid and off-grid solutions.
P&D Board Chairman Abdullah Khan Sumbal said: “Punjab is a progressive province where development initiatives are always encouraged. I also appreciate and acknowledge the support of WB with Punjab province. Punjab Government has always been growth-centric and inclined to sectorial working.”
