Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Punjab government to promote SMEs at grass-root level

Punjab government to promote SMEs at grass-root level

After launching the food stamp scheme in Punjab, Pakistan Muslim League-N led coalition government in Punjab is planning to undertake a programme of vigorous industrialisation and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the urban and rural areas of the province to absorb unemployed labour.

Sources in the PML-N told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the major aim of the socio-economic policies of the PML-N led government is to create employment opportunities in order to reduce poverty and at the same time to ensure a fuller utilisation of the country's human resources for productive purposes.

Poverty alleviation is one of the important objectives of the PML-N led coalition government and the food stamp scheme has been launched in a bid to help the have nots to tackle poverty. "The PML-N government is launching a series of dialogue with the stakeholders to devise a policy for promotion of SMEs at grass root level", the sources said.

PML-N Lahore Vice President Shahbaz Haider said that provision of better health and education facilities to masses is the foremost priority of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who is working day and night to change the fate of the people.

Analysts say there is considerable poverty in the fast growing cities of Punjab. Poverty in the urban areas is growing faster than the rural areas due to high food inflation and escalating price hike.

Beggary in Pakistan is now an established profession which is getting stronger in urban areas, they added. Coercive child beggary is also on the rise, with the parents forcibly sending their children out on the streets to beg, they say. Punjab Minister for Population Welfare, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said that poverty alleviation is only possible with the provision of modern educational facilities to all segments of the society.

She said the Punjab government has introduced reforms in education, health and other social sectors in a bid to provide relief to the masses apart from improving their standard of living.

In order to achieve desired results of the reform agenda, she said a comprehensive and effective monitoring and evaluation system is being implemented at district and provincial levels. She said that Rs 58.64 billion would be spent on social sector development programme whereas, Rs 30 billion have been earmarked for educational development projects and Rs 26.10 billion would be spent for the provision of healthcare facilities to the masses in the current fiscal year.

Under the universal primary enrolment campaign, 1.7 million children would be enrolled in the schools however, 100 percent children would be ensured to admit in the schools.

Huge amount is being provided for the provision of computers to 4000 high schools whereas, model schools will also be established at tehsil headquarter level, in addition free air-conditioned bus service would also be provided for pick and drop facility to the matric level students of less developed areas in the province, she added. Reacting to resignation of Pervez Musharraf, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said that Pakistan got independence through a democratic struggle and with vote power.

She said that Pakistan came into existence in the month of August and dictator Pervez Musharraf also resigned in the month of August whereas, another era of dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq finished in the same month and it was proved that dictatorship cannot stand in front of people's power.

Neelam said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's statement "democracy is the best revenge" has been proved; however, now it was the responsibility of the democratic forces to solve the people's problems and overcome the economic crises. She said that parliament is the elected body of people of the country and also answerable before the people, therefore, coalition government would ensure the supremacy of the parliament.

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