President World Bank Jim Yong Kim calls on CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that eight percent target of annual growth rate has been fixed under development strategy 2018 of Punjab. He said that the target of preparing 20 lakh skilled manpower will be achieved during next two and a half years.

During the meeting with President World Bank Jim Yong Kim, Shahbaz Sharif said that making Punjab safe, economically strong, industrial and knowledge based province is our mission. President World Bank assured all possible cooperation to Punjab government in energy projects, education, health and other sectors through renewable sources. He said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is successfully pursuing the policy of achieving results by fixing targets. He said that Punjab has made exemplary progress under the impressive leadership of Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

He said that we will promote cooperation with Punjab government by keeping close contacts in future. President World Bank Jim Yong Kim lauded the extraordinary working abilities of Shahbaz Sharif.

During meeting with President World Bank, Shahbaz Sharif said that increase in the target of investment by overcoming energy crisis is an important element of development strategy. He said that 3600 megawatt gas-based energy projects are being set up in the province.He said that precious national resources of 112 billion rupees have been saved by setting up glorious example of transparency in energy projects.

The Chief Minister said that modern infrastructure of international standard is also being established in the province. He said that the construction, repair and rehabilitation project of four thousand km long rural roads is continuing successfully in the province. He said that improvement is being brought in the services and prosperity of the people through information technology. He said that implementation on the citizen feedback monitoring programme is continuing successfully for ensuring provision of speedy services to the people and improving performance of government institutions through e-governance.

Talking to President World Bank, Shehbaz Sharif said that Punjab government is taking effective steps for providing dignified, safe, comfortable, economical and international standard travelling facilities to the people. He said that lakhs of people are benefiting from metro bus service daily in Lahore and Rawalpindi. He said that work is continuing speedily on metro bus project in Multan. He said that Lahore orange line metro train project has been started with the cooperation of China in the provincial metropolis.

The Chief Minister said that merit and transparent policy is being implemented strictly in the province. He said that recruitments are being made only and only on merit in all departments including education. He said that one lakh teachers have been recruited on merit and complete transparency.

Shehbaz Sharif also informed President World Bank Jim Yong Kim about the steps of Punjab government for eliminating child labour and added that 30 thousand children working at brick kilns have been enrolled in schools. He said that the biggest budget in the history of the province has been given for providing health facilities to the people. He said that monitoring of health services is being carried out through modern technology.

The Chief Minister said that cooperation will be promoted with World Bank through further close contacts in future. He said that round the clock efforts will be made for taking Pakistan forward through collective wisdom.

Senior officials were also present during the meeting of President World Bank with Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.