Financial discipline of Punjab a role model: minister

LAHORE

Provincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that financial discipline of Punjab government in the speedy completion of mega public welfare projects is a role model for other provinces.

She was talking to a German delegation comprising Dr Heming, Dr Christina, Ms Almant Knop, Dr Juergen Zoll and Dr Julia, representative of GIZ, during a meeting at Civil Secretariat on Friday.

The minister said that foreign investors were taking keen interest in investment in Punjab due to good governance, transparency and high standard of development projects. She said that other provinces of Pakistan were taking guidance from financial policies and measures of Punjab government. She said that the platforms like NFC were playing an important role in the promotion of mutual contact between provinces and solution to collective problems.

The minister informed the delegation that the government was setting solid targets for stability of economy, and effective steps were being taken for this purpose. She said that the youths were the main workforce of the province. She said that in order to ensure proper utilisation of human resource, attention was being paid to its technical and vocational training. She such skills were being introduced which were in demand in the international markets. She said that government was facilitating investors and ensuring their complete protection. 

Dr Ayesha Ghaus told the delegation that power sector, education, health and agriculture were top priorities of the government with regard to investment. She said that the government was also concentrating on solar energy, gas and coal power for overcoming energy crisis. She said that China was extending full assistance with regard to foreign investment.

Replying to a question, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that Punjab government had introduced necessary amendments to the laws for women empowerment. She said that educational scholarships as well as interest-free loans were being given to girls and women. She said that besides free education, monthly scholarships were also being extended to girls of the rural areas for motivating them for education.

Referring to the reforms in Finance Department, the minister said the department had evolved a reforms strategy with the assistance of donors for running its financial affairs in a better manner.

Iqbal Day: Iqbal Day celebrations continued at Punjab University on Friday as the university’s Oriental College, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG), Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) and College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) organised different events to pay tribute to the Poet of the East and great philosopher, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.  

The events were attended by senior faculty members, officials and a large number of students. At the event held by Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, students presented Kalam-e-Iqbal and made speeches about the life and teachings of Allama Iqbal. The PU Oriental College organised a seminar to highlight various aspects of life, teachings and concepts presented by Allama Iqbal.

A quiz competition, seminar and discussion programme were held by Centre for South Asian Studies. College of Earth and Environmental Sciences organised debate competition on “Apna Muqam Paida Kar” and a quiz competition. A documentary was screened and a tableau was presented by the students on the life of Allama Iqbal.