18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 17: DCO Karachi Mir Hussain Ali has directed all departments of the city government to submit recommendations and suggestions for preparing the Sindh Vision 2015.

His directives came following chief secretary's orders to all DCOs in the province to submit their proposals on the subject. Official sources in the CDGK told PPI that the departments had received the DCOs directives a few days back and were now set to start their work.

Highlighting different features of Sindh Vision 2015, the sources said that the basic objective of plan was promoting good governance and upgrading administrative machinery by providing training and improving skills with a view to meet the requirements of 2015.

The departments have been asked to suggest changes about investing in human resource management and employment and for creating jobs for educated as well as illiterate work force in rural and urban areas with special emphasis on the rural sector where labour force is not being utilized properly.

Another area of emphasis is formulation of a strategy for preservation of natural resources and sustainable development in all sectors of economy with proper implementation of policy and control of pollution to provide clean atmosphere to the public.

The departments are supposed to present proposals for strengthening of institution for proper functioning and provision of service in various sectors because, at present, performance of different institutions is not up to the mark.

The plan also stresses on greater public participation in development and environmental management along with income distribution strategies to support poor segments of society, besides monitoring and evaluation of all sectors in all sectors.

The departments have been asked to come up with a clear vision of issues, which will be confronting in the year 2015, with specific projections of basic social indicators, such as Human Development Index, and to evolve comprehensive strategy to face population explosion and growing number of people living below the poverty line.

Sindh Vision 2015 also lays emphasis on major investment in education, adult literacy, vocational training and skill development and turning of surplus labour into human capital by investing meaningfully in the training and development of masses.

Similarly investment in health sector, particularly in preventive measures like immunization, better sanitation, provision of clean drinking water and better housing, are areas of special consideration where departments would pay much attention.

Some of the areas where the departments would present their recommendations include strengthening of district governments system, introduction of a system for effective check to minimize chances of corruption and embezzlement with particular emphasis on participation of civil society and on controlling migration from rural to urban areas. -PPI