LAHORE: Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that urban clusters can serve as engines of economic growth and provide employment to labour force, if their potential is fully developed.
She was addressing a conference “Management Accountants Conference 2016”, organised by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP).
She said urban centre now house more than 40 percent of the total population of the province. In order to develop potential of urban clusters, the government needs to improve mobility and provide low-cost housing, clean drinking water and sanitation; she said, adding that the priority is also being given to funding projects in these areas.
Infrastructure project in urban centre projects would attract investments and create jobs due to economies of scales and a more skilled labour force in the urban clusters.
She added, “Punjab government is promoting public-private partnership so that maximum job opportunities could be created and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would prove to be a revolutionary step in this regard.”
Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities for Punjab Khalil Tahir Sindhu said CPEC projects are being completed with speed and transparency. An investment of $2.8 billion has been made in the 1,320 megawatt Sahiwal coal power project. Another 1,320MW coal power plant is being set up at Port Qasim,” he said.
The Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, has revealed that the internet penetration in Pakistan reached 15 percent.
“Recently the present government has issued a long-awaited telecom policy, marked as landmark document by industry experts for the incorporation of numerous measures to accelerate the digitization in the country,” he said.
Pakistan he said is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of number of internet users, ranked at a miserable 147 but it seems like the situation is improving at a decent pace.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Abdul Basit urged the Federal and Provincial government to save various sectors that are on the verge of collapse because of heavy taxation and unfavorable rules and regulations of the government.
Muhammad Iqbal Ghori President ICMA Pakistan On behalf of Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan welcomed you all participants in Management Accountants Conference 2016.
He emphasized on the importance of preservation and facilitation of Textile Sector from the government. He further explained that Textile is the largest Industrial Sector contributing in the economy of Pakistan and the Management Accountants are proving to be the real partners of textile industry.