KARACHI, Nov 17: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has stressed the need for adopting effective measures for setting up a talent pool, comprehensive planning and better utilization of human resource in the province.

Speaking at a meeting in the Governor’s House, he pointed out that these factors were essential for improving the lot of the common man and progress and prosperity in the province.

Besides better opportunities of education and training available within the country, Mr Soomro said, advantage should be taken of exchange programmes at the international level.

He issued directives for establishment of a talent pool at every level and to carry out planning to meet the practicable and realistic requirements.

He said cooperation of the local community should be obtained for development schemes and their planning.

Discussing the National Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme, the meeting was informed that the UNDP, in conjunction with the government of Pakistan, had developed an approach to solve urban problems, predominantly prevailing in the lower income communities.

The project will provide micro-credit to urban poor families and promote affordable self-help-based incremental development initiatives on the lines of the Orangi pilot project.

It will have partnership among local communities, local government bodies, NGOs and the private sector. It will also develop a policy dialogue at provincial and national levels.

The NUPAP programme will focus on social and community empowerment mobilization through low-cost self-help local initiatives to support income generation and improve local conditions; will support decentralization and strengthen local governance, facilitate constructive and effective partnership among local communities, government bodies, NGOs and the private sector for sustainable development and poverty alleviation, provide micro-finance services to the urban poor and micro-credit as well as leased equipment for small-scale income generation activities.

The meeting was attended, among others, by additional chief secretary Shahzado Shaikh, principal secretary Akhtar Zamin and director-general of Kutcha abadis Tasneem Siddiqi.—APP