LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday launched ‘RISE Punjab’ -- a social protection and economic revival response to post-Covid-19 -- to prepare all development schemes and initiatives either locally funded or donor supported.

The holistic framework of RISE Punjab focuses on six sectors including economic recovery and stability, social protection, health, substantial improvements in the governance capabilities, education and human capital development and risk management.

Chairing a meeting on government’s plan for province’s future economic growth strategy in the wake of coronavirus lockdown at CM office at Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam, chief minister Usman Buzdar discussed the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan in combating Covid-19 and government’s priority of providing immediate relief to the people in distress. By taking timely actions like imposing lockdown and strengthening health care facilities, he said, the government had been able to keep the situation under control.

It focuses economic recovery, social protection, health, education, improvement in governance capabilities, human capital development

The chief minister lauded the Planning and Development Board’s efforts for preparing a comprehensive strategy to set the direction of public sector investments in the post-Covid-19 period as well as preparation of the forthcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP). “I am hopeful that RISE Punjab Strategic Framework will help the government put the economy back on track,” he said.

It may be mentioned that the P&D Board with support of DFID’s Sub-National Governance (SNG) team has developed a strategy for post-Covid-19 public investment strategy. The primary agenda of the strategy is to deal with after effects of Covid-19 in terms of economic crisis and to help the groups susceptible to the financial setback.

The Punjab government has also prepared a plan to curtail the financial implications arising due to the global pandemic. The plan of action is known as the `RISE Punjab’, which will cater needs of the public. It has also prepared a strategy for responsive investment for social protection and economic revival.

P&D Board Chairman Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh said the priority of the Punjab government had always been to stand with the masses and completely support them during this global crisis. On the directions of the chief minister, he said, the P&D had already taken essential measures to prepare the packages for the affected masses. He also said that RISE Punjab was a collaborative effort of many dedicated professionals from government, academia, business, international partners, etc.

“RISE Punjab – Responsive Investment for Social Protection and Economic Stimulus is a comprehensive framework for the entire economy. It provides strategic direction for public investments and aligning policies and shall be used while formulating next year’s annual development plan as well as realigning ongoing projects in the short, medium and long term,” Mr Sheikh said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020