Sphere of CPEC to be Extended to the Industrial and Agricultural Sector: Secretary Planning

Secretary Planning Developing & Reform Zafar Hasan has said that scope of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been expanded with a focus on industrial and agriculture cooperation, socio-economic development, trade and market access. Hasan expressed these views during a meeting with the senior civil officers of 111th National Management Course during their visit to the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform on Monday.

He said the CPEC had now entered into a phase where representation from the private sector will accelerate the pace of industrialization. The secretary planning said the government officials should work hard for public welfare. He said the officers should ensure discipline as only through discipline “we can achieve nation building and successes in institutions.”

He said that being backbone of the state, bureaucracy had an immense responsibility to deliver and come up to the expectations of the nation. While welcoming the senior civil officers, Secretary Zafar Hasan said that bureaucrats need to maintain a healthy balance among public needs, technical compulsions and administrative imperatives.

While giving a detailed briefing about the Planning Commission and its administrative and financial affairs as well as an overview of development projects currently under implementation in different parts of the country, the secretary said that efforts to regain macroeconomic stability and steer the growth to high and sustained level, and getting fiscal consolidation for achieving SDGs have close linkage with the role of Planning Commission. The meeting with senior civil servants from various occupational groups and cadres was later turned into an interactive session where the secretary shared his vision with the participants and answered their questions.