LAHORE: The two-day Punjab Economic Forum 2017 concluded on Tuesday with an aim to improve living standards of people in Punjab. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafique Rajwana said “It is heartening to see a good number of economists and economic experts under one roof discussing the economic growth in Punjab while finding out new ways to accelerate the pace of progress resultantly benefiting the commoners in the province. We must learn from the extensive experience of experts so that the true objective of organising the forum can be achieved. I congratulate Planning and Development Department and the Urban Unit on successful execution of the program.” The closing ceremony was also attended by the Punjab Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha. Former finance secretary Dr Waqar Masood stressed the need of political ownership of economic equity projects. “The Punjab Economic Forum has been able to provide a unique platform for promoting discourse on growth and development priorities of the province, and derive public policy options,” said Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Punjab Planning and Development Board chairman while addressing the closing ceremony. In his address, Punjab Planning and Development Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said, “The underlying objective has been to include and involve maximum number of experts so as to come up with a comprehensive and sustainable plan to turn Punjab’s economy into a thriving one that will offer something for everyone living here. International speakers, including Abla Amawi of the UNDP, Dr Anthony Chiu, Dr Athula Senaratne from Sri Lanka, Muhammad Abdul Khalid from Kuala Lumpur, Hassan, Dr Nauman Majid from Switzerland, World Bank Country Director Illango Phatachamutu, Prof Li Xiguang from Beijing, Dr Fahad Khan of the Asian Development Bank, Dr Murtaza Haider of Ryerson University, Canada and former State Bank of Pakistan governor Dr Ishrat Hussain were among those, who addressed the forum. The forum was attended by professionals, practitioners, academicians, development partners, researchers and government officials. Panellists stressed the need to ensure that fruits of economic stability and equity reach everyone in the province.