PERI releases 12 research reports

M RAFIQUE GORAYA

Lahore: Punjab Economic Research Institute (PERI), Planning & Development Department (P&DD) released twelve research reports about Punjab’s economy and performance of the government for the year 2017 here on Thursday. The launch comprised of individual presentation sessions of each of the 12 research reports. Different sessions were chaired by relevant Secretaries of departments and Members of P&D Board

The reports encompass various sectors of Punjab’s economy, including agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, women development, and small scale industry, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the area of human resource (HR). The presentations highlighted key socio-economic issues prevalent in Punjab and, based on the research conducted, the researchers offered in-depth and actionable insights to the stakeholders and policymakers

The investigative study on fertilizer subsidies presented a comprehensive view and tackled an important issue of how subsidies influence the productivity of crops in Punjab, and suggested to devise an appropriate and focused mechanism. The reports on social sectors (education and health) offered timely evidence based implications. In particular, the educational attainment report encompassed all education levels, hence enabling the concerned authorities to aptly analyze the information at the local level, as the findings gave more disaggregated evidence at the local level. The study on health sector brought to light the current situation of the citizens of Punjab and how various stakeholders can bring improvements through better health care facilities and at the same time by creating public awareness.

PERI has also explored the relatively new area of women development and launched a report highlighting the situational analysis of female factory workers in manufacturing sector. The session was chaired by Secretary, Women Development Department. The findings indicated that workers fear for their job security, there is little attention towards on-the-job trainings, and there is a lack of female-specific facilities at the workplace. The report elaborated ways to improve the working condition, stressed on the stringent implementation of the labour laws, and the need to develop new laws pertaining to sub-contractors.

Chairman P&D Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan chaired the launch ceremony while Mian Muhammad Mushtaq, Additional Chief Secretary C&W, Members P&D Board Dr Abid Bodla (ID), Dr Shabana Haider (Health), Managing Director ICRU Maleeha Bangash & senior officials of administrative departments, academicians, students, media and representatives from different research & social organizations attended the session.