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Chairperson,
Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs,
Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,
We join the previous speakers to extend our delegation's warmest felicitations to you on your election as Chair of the 46th session of the Commission for Social Development. Our felicitations also go to other members of the Bureau for their well deserved election. We assure you of Pakistan delegation's full support during the deliberations of this session.
Distinguished Delegates
Chairperson
First, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund has been set up with an endowment of $100 million, as a wholesale lender to NGOs engaged in providing micro-financing. This Fund is present in 104 districts across Pakistan with 68 partner organizations and has so far disbursed more than 17.5 billion rupees to around 6.18 million beneficiaries.
Second, Realizing the importance of microfinance in improving the lives of poor people, the government established Khushhali Bank in 2000 which is a micro-finance institution under a public-private partnership programme. This Bank alone has so far disbursed 9.6 billion rupees to more than half a million household. Nearly 33 percent of its clients are women.
Third, The spending in the Public Sector Development Programme for the 2007 has been increased by 59.9% which will lead to creation of a large number of new jobs.
Fourth, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) represent a significant component of Pakistan's economy in terms of value. Being labour intensive, they provide employment to the bulk of non-agricultural labour force. The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority established by the government is providing support to 3.2 million SMEs currently working in Pakistan with technical up gradation and human resource development.
Fifth, As a specific targeted intervention to promote employment, Government of Pakistan has recently launched a National Internship Programme (NIP) to harness the energy and motivation of the educated youth with the dual objectives of improving the public sector performance and increasing the employability of educated youth. While 20,000 interns have been inducted in the first batch, the programme will benefit upto 50,000 graduates every year all over Pakistan. Besides, a specific employment scheme ( Rozgar Scheme) was launched in 2006 aiming at providing employment opportunities in the age group of 18-40 having secondary school certification.
Sixth, The government is also managing the phenomena of international migration. As a labour exporting country, the focus is on (a) making efforts to export the increasing number of workers with proper skills, (b) protecting the rights of migrant workers, (iii) facilitating workers in sending remittances through legal channels and effective utilization of remittances.
Seventh, In order to strengthen, standardize and streamline vocational and technical education, government has set up a National Vocational and Technical Education Commission. This body works as a regulatory authority for skills development and enhancing the productivity and competence of the workforce.
Chairperson
The various measures implemented by the government of Pakistan have started paying dividends and has led to a tangible improvement in the economic and social welfare of the people of Pakistan. We know that there are still challenges in achieving the ambitious goal of full employment and decent work for all. However, we remain committed to pursuing vigorous policies on this difficult path.
I thank you.