MULTAN::The Development Dialogue grand ceremony was held at Bahawal Gymkhana Bahawalpur in collaboration with the United Nations, Pakistan and South Punjab Secretariat.
The event was attended through video link by Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, Provincial Minister for Finance Makhdoom Hashim Javan Bakht while representatives of United Nations, European Union, World Bank , Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Saqib Zafar, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Secretary Planning and Development South Punjab Shoaib Iqbal Syed and secretaries of various departments were in attendance.
In a video link adress, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi mentioned the UN’s Living River Initiative which is being launched on the direction of the Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
He said that the challenges of climate change in South Punjab were also under consideration and a master plan was being prepared in consultation with the Ministry of Climate Change so that future challenges could be tackled.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar said that the United Nations in collaboration with Pakistan organized South Punjab Deep Dive which would not only accelerate the development work in the region, but also the efficiency of various departments will be enhanced.
He informed that today’s recommendations would be helpful in giving the right direction to the development priorities of South Punjab and addressing the challenges of development planning.
Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht while addressing through video link said that 35 percent of the development budget has been allocated for South Punjab so that the funds of this region could not be transferred to schemes of other areas.
The main focus of government expenditure this year was on human development as well as equitable and balanced distribution of resources which would lead to economic prosperity, reduction of poverty and creation of employment opportunities.
MPA Uzma Kardar apprised the participants about the recommendations for economic empowering rural women of remote areas of Punjab and integration of their development into the national mainstream.
In this highly meeting, the recommendations regarding priorities, challenges and opportunities in South Punjab were reviewed.
Earlier, ACS South Punjab Saqib Zafar reviewed the roadmap for construction and development of South Punjab.
On the occasion, Chairman Planning and Development Board Punjab Abdullah Sanbal briefed about the ongoing development schemes and utilization of development funds under the Annual Development Programme 2021-2025 and Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP).
He briefed about the development of South Punjab in the national mainstream and improvement of infrastructure and informed about the steps taken.
Representatives of the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank, also spoke at the dialogue for the development of South Punjab and expressed satisfaction over the development work in South Punjab.
They said that the efforts of South Punjab to bring together the stakeholders on a common platform are commendable. Administrative Secretaries of South Punjab,in a panel discussion, informed about the performance of their departments and submitted recommendations for the development and progress of the region.