LAHORE: Signing the framework of cooperation and research linkages with the leading universities, Planning and Development (P&D) Board chairman Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said the collaboration would reinforce the board in formulating evidence-based policy.

The P&D Board on Monday signed frameworks of cooperation with the leading universities like the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore School of Economics (LSE), Government College University (GCU), Lahore, and the Punjab University at the board’s AKS auditorium.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, P&D Board Secretary Muzaffar Khan Sial, administrative secretaries, respective universities’ vice chancellors and other officers participated in the ceremony.

Mr Sahoo said the P&D Board was playing a vital role in determining the economic direction of the province, developing plans and policies for economic development as well as supervising province-wide coordination by tracking initiatives and plans for growth at the provincial level.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman said the Punjab government would extend its full support to the universities and look forward to fruitful collaboration between P&D Board and the leading universities.

LUMS VC Dr Tariq M Jadoon, LSE Rector Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, GCU acting VC Dr Ahmad Adnan and PU VC Dr Khalid Mahmood also spoke.

E-PROCUREMENT: Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman inaugurated the e-procurement system, developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) in collaboration with the federal and provincial Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) boards at Arfa Software Technology Park (ASTP).

The Punjab government has introduced an e-procurement system in all provincial departments to streamline the public procurement processes.

CS Mr Zaman said the e-procurement system would ensure good governance, transparency, efficiency and time-saving in government procurements.PITB chairman Faisal Yousaf and PPRA Punjab MD Waqar Azim also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2023