Staff Reporter
Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht on Wednesday declared that the fiscal year 2021-22 will be the year of rehabilitation.
“The Universal Health Coverage Program will ensure quality healthcare and the special development package for the industrial sector will ensure economic recovery.
The solution to the problems faced in order to increase agricultural production and the provision of services in the relevant sectors will be improved.
The development of agro-related industries will also be an important part of the future development agenda.
Providing social security will also be the top priority of the Punjab government in the next budget.
Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Javan Bakht was presiding over a pre-budget consultative meeting with leading economists under the Sub-National Governance Program.
The minister said that without industrial development, economic recovery is unthinkable.
Sustainable steps are being taken for the development of the industrial sector in all stages from investor protection to establishment of industrial zones and the preparation of a suitable labour force in consultation with stakeholders.
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.
The session 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 PFM experts of Sub-National Governance Program.
Participants discussed various opportunities that can be used by the government of Punjab to support businesses and service industry including regulatory guillotine, improving agriculture extension services, removing bottlenecks for agricultural productivity, developing futuristic skills and looking at pandemic recovery plans.
