ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif has selected seven key areas as first step of his strategic roadmap, for which Federal Secretaries of concerned Ministries would be given targets/ performance indicators for wide range of reforms.
The Prime Minister’s intent has been conveyed by Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah in a letter to 13 federal secretaries and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Dr Shah, in his letter, stated from the very outset the current government is seized with critical challenges especially in the areas of economic governance and energy and at this juncture; therefore, the need for a strategic vision with a clear direction for better outcomes cannot be overemphasized.
“As Secretaries responsible for your respective mandates, the Prime Minister wishes you to be committed members of his team that will design, own, steer and deliver much needed reforms based on an agreed Strategic Roadmap. This Strategic Roadmap will be delivered at a pace and will be monitored by the Prime Minister in person,” he said in the letter addressed to the Secretaries, adding that his team at the PMO including himself, will be there for assistance in troubleshooting and gaining traction.
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As a first step, the following seven priority areas, along with the lead and some collaborating entities, have been identified for the Roadmap: (i) fiscal stabilization including austerity measures and control of inflation will be the responsibility of Finance Division whereas all the Ministries and provincial government will collaborate in this regard;(ii) revenue enhancement will be duty of FBR (Revenue)& Non-Tax Revenue (Finance Division) whereas Ministries/ Divisions/ Entities relevant for revenue mobilization will collaborate;(iii) SOE reforms & privatization (Finance Division & Privatisation Division) along with relevant Ministries/ entities;(iv) Export Enhancement (Commerce Division), Ministry of National Food Security & Research, Ministry of Industries & Production, Ministry of IT & Telecom and other related Ministries/ Divisions Entities will work together;(v) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) promotion (Board of Revenue) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other related Ministries/ Divisions/ Entities & Provincial Governments will join hands in this regard;( vi) power & gas sector reforms (Ministries of Petroleum, Power & Water Resources) along with any other related Ministry/ entities; and (vii) social protection for the vulnerable stakeholders(Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Division). Any other related Ministries/ Divisions/ Entities will be taken on board on this regard.
According to the letter, Dr. Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister is the team leader for this initiative. He has convened a workshop on June 27, 2022 at the Prime Minister’s Office to brief the secretaries on this initiative and to discuss outcome-based, output-driven targets/ performance indicators that the secretaries intend to set against each priority area.
“It is expected that the targets proposed by you (Secretaries) are thoroughly discussed with the Ministers Incharge of Ministry before they are finalized by the Prime Minister, subsequently,” said Dr. Shah in the letter.
Secretary to Prime Minister has requested 13 Secretaries and Chairman FBR to attend the workshop in person on the indicated date and venue. A short presentation will be expected from concerned Secretaries indicating the proposed goals, targets/ outputs and performance indicators for the upcoming financial years, i.e., 2022-23, corresponding with the identified priority areas relevant to their mandate.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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