ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess progress on the appointment of technical experts across federal ministries and departments, and to discuss measures for enhancing foreign investment.
The Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) presented a detailed briefing on current initiatives and future plans aimed at streamlining expert appointments and increasing investor confidence.
The prime minister, highlighting institutional reforms in the federal government as a top priority, said, “We are fully committed to implementing our agenda of economic digitization, rightsizing public institutions, and ensuring merit-based appointments of experts in government departments.” He also stressed that there will be no compromise on merit and transparency in the appointment of experts.
During the briefing, the meeting was informed that so far, appointments had been made on 15 technical expert positions whereas appointment process was underway for 47 additional technical positions.
“Some 30 candidates have been shortlisted for the appointment of Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and Managing Directors in 7 key ministries and departments,” the prime minister was informed.
He was further told that initial rounds of interviews for appointments in the Petroleum Division and National Vocational and Technical Training Commission had been completed.
Federal ministries have designated focal teams to formulate strategies for investment and sectoral roadmaps for investment have also been prepared for Information Technology & Telecom, Railways and Tourism. Sectoral frameworks related to investment in food security, maritime affairs, minerals, tourism, industry, housing and energy are in their final stages.
The prime minister was further informed that pitchbooks for 18 economic sectors had been prepared to allocate projects for investment from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Friday approved Pakistan’s first Skills Impact Bond -- a modern model that will attract private investment to make the youth employable.
He approved the project while chairing a review meeting here on the roadmap for providing employment to the youth.
Under the new model, youth will be taught skills that are in line with contemporary requirements, which will empower and enable them to play an important role in the country’s economic development. The model is called “Pay-for-Success”, under which public or donor funds are released only when independently verified results, such as job creation or a certain threshold of income, are achieved.
Speaking at the meeting, the prime minister directed that further steps should be taken to enhance the capacity of the youth, train them in skills that are in line with contemporary requirements, and ensure employment after training.
A comprehensive roadmap based on the estimated number of job opportunities and hiring of youth in Pakistan and abroad should be presented, he said adding he will review the progress of implementation of the roadmap after every two months. The prime minister said training of skilled people for employment abroad should be given priority.
A campaign should be launched to make the youth aware of the employment opportunities available on the Digital Youth Hub, he asserted. The meeting was informed that more than 500,000 people have registered under the Digital Youth Hub so far, while more than 1.7 million people have downloaded its application.
In addition to that more than 500 companies got registered. There were more than 47,000 employment opportunities in Pakistan and more than 100,000 jobs were available abroad besides availability of more than 2,000 scholarships. More than 500 institutions, including Pakistani embassies abroad, government agencies, private companies and other NGOs, including the United Nations, are connected to the portal.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, underscoring the significance of the European Union as one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the GSP Plus scheme, which had proved to be mutually beneficial for both the sides.
The prime minister said this in a meeting with Ambassador of the European Union in Pakistan Riina Kionka who paid a farewell call on him at the Prime Minister’s House.
During the meeting, they also discussed the important issues between Pakistan and the EU, including domestic political developments.
Ambassador Riina Kionka thanked the prime minister for all the support she had received during her stay in Pakistan and reiterated the EU’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan, former provincial president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and ex-provincial minister, in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) ranks during a meeting held here at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan was accompanied by his son Shehryar and several close associates, all of whom formally announced their joining of the PMLN. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and PMLN Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President, Engineer Amir Muqam, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the new entrants and expressed confidence in Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan’s ability to strengthen the party’s outreach in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, and assured her that the government would continue to provide all possible legal and diplomatic support in the matter of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The government is in no way negligent regarding the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the prime minister said.
