LAHORE: The World Bank (WB) plans to focus on various areas to improve governance in Pakistan under the five-year country partnership framework. Under the plan, the bank will pay attention to education, health, Clean Green Pakistan, growth that is inclusive and improved governance as an enabler.

“We plan on concentrating on resources of a few areas for a greater impact. We will also focus on six principal indicators where we can make a dent,” said WB Country Head Najy Benhassine while presenting the proposed Country Partnership Framework at a consultative session organised by the provincial government on Friday.

“We also need to focus on the basics where Pakistan critically lags -- human capital, poverty alleviation, stunting, revenue mobilisation, biggest constraints to investments and increase our attention on data/analytics/impact evaluations,” Mr Benhassine added.

Speaking on the occasion, Planning and Development Department Chief Economist Dr Amanullah presented Punjab’s economic growth strategies, the government’s interventions and economic growth landscape in the province. He discussed strategic and priority intervention made for fostering economic, enabling services sector, promoting small and medium enterprises-led economic growths, developing emerging urban areas, regional equalisation etc.

Planning and Development Board Chairman Abdullah Khan Sumbal said Punjab was a progressive province where development initiatives were always encouraged. “We appreciate and acknowledge the support of World Bank,” he added.

Planning and Development Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said the Punjab government had always been growth-centric and inclined towards sectoral working.

The principal secretary to the chief minister, the additional chief secretary (south), the planning and development Punjab chairman, its secretary, secretaries from various departments also presented overviews of their respective departments.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021