The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfa) Tuesday released the findings of the baseline survey on the National Programme for Food Security and Productivity Enhancement of Small Farmers, known as Crop Maximisation Project phase-II (CMP-II).

Jessica Shepherd

Experts at a consultation yesterday suggested the government allocate at least six percent of gross national product (GNP) for education sector to achieve the education for all (EFA) target by 2015.

They also called on the government to allocate six percent of the total education budget for adult literacy.

To achieve rapid growth, governments must promote economic integration which, at its core, is about the mobility of people, products, and ideas.

Senior Economist, World Bank Somik V. Lall said that instead of worrying about the size of metropolises, cities and towns, the World Development Report 2009 (WDR) calls for policymakers to worry about making sure that these places work well.

World Bank (WB) has agreed to provide $350 million during the next three years for up lift of education sector. MoU is expected to be signed in this regard on June 5, 2009.

Pakistan is undertaking a home-grown strategy for growth and poverty reduction that will be implemented with the support of the IMF and other development partners.

HANDS-ON: Students attending the training programme on food preservation and value addition at the Incubation Centre of the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT) in Thanjavur on Wednesday.

THANJAVUR: There is a demand for 34 lakh qualified personnel in the food processing industry,said Mr. Ajit Kumar, Joint secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing here on Wednesday.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the government wants to set up schools at around 2000 remote villages which lack presence of education institutions.

The lagging performance of American schoolchildren, particularly among poor and minority students, has had a negative economic impact on the country that exceeds that of the current recession, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Pakistan should focus on a range of critical development issues, including health, education, skill building and social mobilisation, as well as important infrastructure to underpin the future growth, said a statement issued by the World Bank here on Tuesday.