Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Sharmila Farooqui has said that government of Sindh is in process of finalising "Sindh Vision 2030" a long-term development framework that aims to identify sector-wise priorities and opportunities for sustainable development and poverty alleviation in the province.
She said this while addressing as chief guest at the workshop on political dialogues jointly organised by SPO Hyderabad and Multan at SPO Office Qasimabad Hyderabad on Sunday.
She said that corruption, tax theft and lack of efficient planning and monitoring had been main hurdles in the process of development as such under the plan not only tax net would be expended but transparency in funds utilisation would also be ensured, she added. She said that accountability bill would be tabled in the next session of the parliament with the consensus of opposition leaders with a view to good governance and transparent transaction of development funds.
She said that history of Pakistan revealed that political confrontation had caused economic destruction and paved the way for dictators, therefore PPP under its reconciliation strategy had not only solved the big issues in the country, but also strengthened the institutions.
Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister, Sharmila Farooqui, said that poverty alleviation, women empowerment, employment generation, infrastructure up-gradation, education and health were the priorities of the government, adding that 150,000 youths will be trained under Benazir Youth Development Programme during the period of three years.
She said that for poverty alleviation more than 41,000 men and women were trained in various trades last year, enabling them to earn their livelihoods.
She disclosed that as many as 2.7 million families were being benefited from Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) whereas 750 persons were availing the income facility under Waseela-e-Haq Programme on monthly basis.
The Advisor further said that 40,000 acre of land had been distributed out of identified / earmarked 0.2 million acre of land in Sindh. She said, "More than 93% of the recipients are women".
She further said that the government was committed to enhancing the standard of education and health which is evident from the fact that education and health budgets had considerably been increased by 58% and 180% respectively.
She opined, "Gender equality is considered to be the vital concern in the process of development, therefore investment in women's empowerment is the key element in improving the economic, political and social conditions in Pakistan".
She said, "Sindh stood first in the economic participation and opportunity index and it contributes to the highest value of gender gap index which indicates that the overall gender gap in the province is relatively less than the other three provinces".
She also highlighted the women development programme under which workshops were being held to impart training in different skills / trades, establishment of sales and display resource centre at Karachi and establishment of complaint cells at Sukkur, Larkana and Hyderabad to control incidents of violence against women at gross root level.
Later, talking to Journalists, Sharmila Farooqui said that negotiation with coalition partners about the fate of local government system was in progress and decision in this regard would be made with consensus.
She said that the high command in MQM has never sought for deployment of law enforcing agencies in Karachi. To another question, she said that more than 18 missing persons from Balochistan have been recovered while efforts are being made to recover others.
However, she said that this matter has been barrowed by previous government. Responding another question, she said that due to efforts of PPP government the son of Afia Siddiqui has been brought to Pakistan while the government has provided full legal assistance to Aafia Siddiqui at USA and hopefully she will be here among us within shortest possible time.
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