Five-year plan: Planning Commission to focus on rural uplift, gender empowerment

ISLAMABAD: The Planning Commission is working on the 12th five-year plan with the main focus on rural development and gender empowerment, an official said on Thursday.

“The examples of rural growth and SMART cities existed in China, Laos, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia, said Sartaj Aziz, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, while addressing a seminar on “Women’s role in rural development of Pakistan”, organised by the Centre for Rural Economy.

“The 12th five-year plan’s key components will include rural transformation, agriculture development, law enforcement, financial inclusion, gender gap mortality, non-recognition of women workforce and nutrition.”

Aziz said, “By giving equal opportunities, women could contribute much more in the rural development of the country.”

He emphasised on the development sector and government stakeholders to develop Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Development Index for Pakistan and the CRE will bridge the gap between the Planning Commission and stakeholders.

Rural women are key agents for sustainable development in the country, he said, adding that they play a catalytic role towards achievement of transformational economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development.

However, women are facing several challenges including the societal discrimination, set cultural norms, healthcare and education facilities.

Aziz said empowering women is essential, not only for the well-being of individuals, families and rural communities, but also for the overall economic productivity.

The development of non-form rural enterprises, branding of products, marketing policies, off-farm jobs creation, livestock and poultry industries, development of SMART cities, etc, would enhance women empowerment by increasing family income, nutrition and women and child healthcare, which are integral part of the socioeconomic sustainable growth.

Shoaib Amhad Siddiqui, secretary of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, welcome the participants of the seminar and appreciate the CRE for highlighting different aspects of women in rural development of the country.

CRE Chief Executive Officer Dr Aamer Irshad said that the centre was formally inaugurated on November 23, 2017, having key mandates of evidence-based policy research on different aspects of rural economy in the country.