Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Holds Key Meetings in Sindh to Discuss Development Initiatives
Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Holds Key Meetings in Sindh to Discuss Development Initiatives
Karachi, January 6: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, was received by Sindh’s Minister for Planning, Nasir Shah, and Chairman Planning and Development Sindh, Najam Shah, along with other dignitaries, during his visit to Sindh. The visit commenced with a one-on-one meeting between the two ministers, followed by a comprehensive review of the projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) portfolio for urban and rural Sindh.
Sindh’s Planning Minister, Nasir Shah, expressed gratitude to Prof. Ahsan Iqbal for his unwavering support, which has led to the highest allocation of approximately Rs. 81 billion for Sindh in the last decade. Prof. Ahsan Iqbal reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment, under the vision and directives of the Prime Minister, to usher in an era of prosperity and development across the province.
During the meeting, Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed officials to ensure the timely resolution of all PSDP projects under implementation in Sindh, including those related to education, water, housing, and infrastructure. He highlighted the green channel approval for the rehabilitation housing project for flood-affected areas, which has resulted in the construction of over 800,000 houses, with 350,000 already completed. The Minister emphasized that the ownership of these houses has been ensured for women, reflecting the government’s commitment to gender equity.
Despite financial constraints, Minister Ahsan Iqbal noted the federal government’s efforts to sustain development initiatives. He pointed out that the PSDP allocation was reduced from Rs. 1,000 billion in 2018 to Rs. 700 billion in 2022 due to economic challenges, with the country nearly defaulting internally by April 2022. He commended the coalition government, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, for taking bold decisions to bring Pakistan back on track.
The Minister elaborated on the federal government’s ambitious Project URAAN, centered around the 5Es Framework, which he described as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s future development. The framework focuses on Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Ethics, Equity, and Empowerment. He stressed the importance of provincial export boards, digital advancement, climate resilience, clean energy transition, and the enhancement of human capital to transform Pakistan socioeconomically.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal underscored the critical need for improved healthcare and education, which are prerequisites for a productive workforce. He announced the federal government’s campaign to achieve zero hepatitis within three years and emphasized the urgent attention required for devolved subjects, including healthcare, education, and population control.
In conclusion, the Minister highlighted the importance of women’s participation in the workforce, emphasizing the need to increase their participation rate to over 50 percent to ensure Pakistan’s progress.
The federal government remains committed to fostering collaboration with provincial governments to achieve sustainable development and prosperity for all.
