PR No. 159 Islamabad

Federal Minister Planning, Development and Reform Prof Ahsan Iqbal today directed for speeding up the pace of work for launching of cluster based development of agriculture, industrial and mining sectors at its earliest.

Cluster-based development of these sectors should be carried out by keeping in view their future growth and export potential. He laid special emphasis on exportable component in cluster based-development of these sectors through value-addition in these sectors. Ahsan Iqbal stated this while chairing a high level meeting of Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform to review the progress on cluster-based transformational plan in agriculture, industrial and mineral and other projects. Minister directed for including the regional and global benchmarks in these transformational plans for making the products of these sector competitiveness in the world. Ahsan Iqbal also directed for identifying different products in these sectors, which should be taken on priority basis for launching the project. He said that provinces should also be taken on board on these projects for the broader ownership.

Ahsan Iqbal directed for making agriculture universities in all the provinces partners in cluster based transformational plan to benefit from their research and studies on agri products as well as progressive farmers and private sector should also taken on board. On cluster based industrial and mineral transformational plan, Ahsan Iqbal directed for indentifying the existing and emerging clusters in these sectors to tap their potential for growth and export purposes. He said that apart from developed areas, under-developed areas should be given special consideration in industrial and mining transformational plans by identifying their potential in various sectors. Minister also issued instructions for improving the infrastructure at the library of the ministry and directed for digitalizing it earliest. He also upgrading and updating the official web site of the ministry by providing latest development data and economic indicators on it. He also directed the operationalizing research centres in Planning Commission to produce a research agenda for future planning and development.

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