Budgetary support in social sector development emphasized.

ISLAMABAD, June 02, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Minister for Planning and Development, Makhdoom Shahabuddin Tuesday emphasized the need for budgetary support and infrastructure development in social sector particularly Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to accomplish Millennium Development Goals. He was talking to a delegation of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) headed by Deputy Director Division of Operations, Mr. Bernard Frahi, which called on him here. The Minister said PPP-led government was determined to come with heavy hands on the insurgents. The Mission was visiting Pakistan to overview the measures taken by government of Pakistan to combat crimes and drug trafficking across the border. He informed the Mission that Planning and Development Division has established a working group which in consultation with the ministries was preparing a preliminary feasibility study report to be presented to Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP). He said FODP Secretariat has also been established in Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate its overall activities. The Mission appreciated the efforts being taken by FODP and assured that the UNDOP will consult the line ministries in Pakistan and support all the steps to be taken for the control of crimes and drug trafficking. The delegates were informed about the plan of the border security. Chief of Integrated Programming Unit, Mark Shaw, Terrorism Prevention Expert, Ilias Catzis, Dr. Nadeem-ur-Rehman and Tariq Mahmood were also present.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)