Punjab Govt's Financial Discipline Role Model For Other Provinces: Minister

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2016 ) : Provincial Minister for Finance Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha on Friday said that financial discipline of Punjab government in the speedy completion of mega public welfare projects was a role model for other provinces.

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, here, she 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 the Punjab government. She said that platforms like NFC were playing an important role in the promotion of mutual contact between provinces and solution of 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 youth were main workforce of the province.

She said that in order to ensure proper utilization of human resource, full attention was being paid to its technical and vocational training and such skills were being introduced which were in demand in international markets.

She said that the government was facilitating investors and ensuring their complete protection.

Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha further 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 in foreign investment. Replying to a question, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that the Punjab government had introduced necessary amendments in 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 rural areas for motivating them towards education.

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

She said that positive reforms had been introduced in taxation, finance and budget policy due to which development growth rate of Punjab had increased by 31 percent in the current financial year while the rate of tax recovery had enhanced by 45 percent. She said that the government was utilizing all available resources for raising the living standard of the common man.