Govt prioritising sectors promising job opportunities for youth: Imran.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the government is prioritizing sectors promising job opportunities for the youth, besides the agriculture sector and up-gradation of public health system in the country.

He was chairing a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), which approved the National Development Outlay 2020-21 and the Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), besides fixing gross domestic product (GDP) and other growth targets for the next fiscal year.

The National Economic Council noted that the 'upward trajectory of the economy made possible after huge efforts of the present government' had been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The prime minister emphasized upon the need for ensuring close and seamless coordination among the federal and provincial governments during finalization and implementation of the development projects. He also underscored the need for employing technology to monitor the progress of ongoing projects. He stressed on ensuring public participation in the development process through provision of real time information and getting their feedback on the status of the projects' implementation. "This will ensure fast implementation of the projects and optimum utilisation will be carried out, leading to economic growth," the prime minister said.

The prime minister directed that the biannual meetings of the National Economic Council be ensured to review the progress of PSDP projects. The meeting reviewed the state of economy during the current fiscal year and the outlook for the upcoming one. It approved the GDP growth target along with sectoral growth projections of agriculture, industry and services for the fiscal year 2020-21. The Macroeconomic Framework for the proposed Annual Plan 2020-21 was also approved.

It was informed that it was the first time that the PSDP included only those projects that had already been approved by the...