Punjab Human Development Forum 2018: Minister stresses learning from experience

LAHORE: Minister for National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar has stressed the need for learning from the extensive experience of the experts who participated in the Punjab Human Development Forum 2018 to achieve the objective of organising the forum.

She said this while addressing the concluding ceremony of the two-day forum here on Wednesday. Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir was also presented.

Federal Minister Saira Afzal Tarar said that, “It is heartening to see a good number of development experts and health experts under one roof discussing the human capital growth in Punjab while finding out new ways to accelerate the pace of human developmen for the benefit of the commoners in the province.

We need a multi-sectoral approach for the implementation of all initiatives. We must learn from the extensive experience of the experts present here so that the true objective of organising this forum can be achieved." She congratulated the Planning and Development Department and the Urban Unit on successful execution of the forum.

Planning and Development Board Chairman Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan said that the forum discussed multiple determinants of human development with main focus on the prevailing endemic of malnutrition in the province.

He said, "In today’s world, investing in nutrition is an absolute necessity, not a luxury; the Punjab government with its commitment to making nutrition a priority in the province is well cognizant about this fact. Good nutrition lies at the heart of human development and drives progress in health, education, gender equity, poverty reduction and employment opportunities."

Urban Unit Chief Executive Officer Dr Nasir Javed stressed the need for making human capital development a policy priority, making appropriate investments. The two day event brought together a number of international and national development experts discussing six various themes in six sessions.

The themes were: Inclusive & Sustainable Human Development, Better Healthcare, Better Development, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Development, Education & Skills for a Sustainable Tomorrow, Integrating Development and Population Planning, Making Nutrition a Priority. International speakers included Patchamuthu Illangovan, The World Bank, Pakistan, Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF, Pakistan, Dr Christian Oldiges, University of Oxford, Ms Cristina Isabel Santos, World Bank, Professor Gavin Jones, Australian National University, E Gail Richardson, HNP Pakistan World Bank, Dr Jaime Saaverda Chaduvi, World Bank, Neil Buhne, UNDP, Sarah Morati Masale, UNFPA, Dr Agha Xaher Gul, USEFP and Dr Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi, David and Kucile Packard Foundation.

Punjab Planning and Development Department Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said, “This forum not only shed light on major determinants of human development but also highlighted that it is imperative that policies and programmes which promote human development are designed for everyone, thereby making development more inclusive.” Punjab Information Technology Board Chairman Dr Umar Saif said the skill development and its links with inclusive and sustainable development were indispensable. Therefore, skills training is the only way to make the huge pool of youth productive members of the workforce in Punjab. "By skill training, I mean to underline skill training that is demand driven and market based", he added.

The forum was attended by high-profile government officials, professionals, practitioners, academicians, development partners, researchers and government officials. The practical recommendations finalised through this forum will be helpful in developing the composite strategy.