Islamabad:Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called for placing education, health, nutrition, clean water, and population balance under the national priorities of Pakistan.
According to Radio Pakistan, Iqbal expressed these views while chairing a meeting on the Human Capital and Skills Mission, part of the Eleven National Economic Missions under URAAN Pakistan.
The meeting reviewed Pakistan's performance in health, education, and skills compared to peer countries, examined URAAN targets for the mission, and discussed a proposed federal-provincial delivery mechanism to achieve them. Iqbal stressed the importance of winning "Marka-e-Taraqqi" or the battle for development following Pakistan's earlier successes.
He stated that policy continuity and political stability are essential for Pakistan's development. Without them, achieving long-term social and economic goals would be challenging. Iqbal highlighted that investment in human resources and skills is crucial for Pakistan's future and argued that social-sector challenges should be prioritized as a national emergency over infrastructure projects like roads and buildings.
Iqbal also pointed out that while the 18th Amendment aimed to improve social sectors, the intended outcomes have not been realized due to the lack of authority transfer to lower tiers. He urged provincial governments to implement governance reforms in education, health, and other social sectors, emphasizing the need to appoint the highest-caliber officers in these departments.