by Shafqat Ali

 

LAHORE, May 6 (Gwadar Pro) - Finance Minister of Punjab, Pakistan Makhdoom Hashim Javan Bakht said on Wednesday afternoon that the province’s agriculture sector was being groomed with the help of Iron Brother China.

 

Chairing a pre-budget consultative meeting with leading economists under the Sub-National Governance Programme (SNG) here, the minister said the government had sought Chinese technology to improve the agriculture sector and Beijing was generously cooperating.

 

“The development of agro-related industries would also be an important part of the future development agenda and providing social security would also be the top priority of the Punjab government in the next budget,” he said, according to an official statement. Bakht said the financial year (FY) 2021-22 would be the year of economic rehabilitation.

 

The minister said the Universal Health Coverage Programme would ensure a healthy society and the special development package for the industrial sector would ensure economic recovery.

 

The provincial minister said that in order to increase agricultural production, the provision of services in relevant sectors would be improved.

 

Bakht said that without industrial development, economic recovery was impossible. “Sustainable steps are being taken for the development of the industrial sector at all stages from investor protection to the establishment of industrial zones and the preparation of a suitable labour force in consultation with stakeholders,” he mentioned.

 

These 360 degree assessments of different sectors with experts, academia, citizens and those directly and indirectly involved in different value chains will lead to a holistic and inclusive budget-making process, he added.

 

The meeting was attended by Chairman Planning and Development Abdullah Sumbal, Secretary Finance Iftikhar Sahoo, Chief Executive Officer Urban Unit Dr Omar, Economist Dr Ghulam Nabi, Dr Ali Cheema, Maroof Syed, Javed Iqbal, Nazish Afraz and the Public Financial Management (PFM) experts of Sub-National Governance Programme.

 

The participants discussed various opportunities that could be used by the government of Punjab to support businesses and service industry including improving agriculture extension services, removing bottlenecks for agricultural productivity, developing futuristic skills and looking at pandemic recovery plans.

 

The minister told the meeting that the present government was also ensuring necessary amendments in the laws to facilitate industry and trade and to promote economic activities in the province and the Cabinet was playing its full role in this regard.