Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, chaired the 24th Board of Governance meeting of the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) in Islamabad today. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Finance Division, Establishment Division, the Rector of NSPP, LUMS, SDPI, and other board members who participated via video link. In his opening remarks, the Minister emphasized the importance of equipping civil servants with modern knowledge and skills to ensure effective governance and efficient service delivery. He stated that in today’s world, shaped by human aspirations and empowered by technology, it is vital to bridge the trust gap between citizens and the government. He stressed the need for a citizen-centric approach, adding that a well-trained workforce, proficient in technology, is crucial to addressing the challenges of the future. The Minister further highlighted the importance of conducting specialized training courses in universities to enhance students' skills across various sectors. He instructed the NSPP to strengthen its professional standards, drawing a comparison with the National Defence University (NDU), and urged the school to offer training programs of international standards. Mr. Ahsan Iqbal called upon the Rector of NSPP to instill a culture of fast and effective decision-making among the civil servants undergoing training. He encouraged the adoption of best international training practices to improve the decision-making process and overall efficiency of civil servants. The Minister also recommended hiring highly qualified trainers, offering them competitive pay packages to attract the best talent. He further emphasized the need for faculty exchange programs with international institutions to enhance training quality. To enhance the NSPP’s capacity, the Minister directed the inclusion of experts in public policy and human resources as board members. He also discouraged unnecessary foreign tours, stressing that with the country’s current economic challenges, every rupee must be utilized wisely. “Pakistan is running on loans, and in such circumstances, the country cannot afford frivolous expenditures,” he stated firmly. *
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