Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Thursday divulged that the provincial government is going to establish a price control authority to effectively monitor prices of daily-use items across the province.
Speaking to MNA Rukhsana Naveed who called on him at CM’s House, Buzdar said the ruling PTI has served public day and night over the past two years and maintained that prices of food items are far lower in Punjab than those in other provinces.
He said Punjab is the only province where a 20-kilogramme flour bag is available at Rs860. He added he himself monitors the government’s measures aimed at providing relief to the masses.
CM Buzdar said the provincial government always gave precedence to public interest over everything else while taking decisions. He said his team has a squeaky clean image as Punjab is ahead of all provinces in terms of transparency, merit, and good governance.
Usman Buzdar maintained that two years of PTI rule is filled with public service and every sector is being developed on modern lines. The welfare of the impecunious strata is the core mission of the government. Similarly, creating ease is another obligation, he added.
The CM disclosed that work has been started on urban forestation. Public interest has always been given importance while serving the masses.
Meanwhile, a ceremony was held at CM Office to sign an agreement between Punjab Power Development Board of Energy Department, Alternate Energy Development Board and Zhenfa Pakistan New Energy Company for setting up of 100-megawatt solar project in Chaubara area of Layyah district with an investment of Rs10 billion.
This project will generate electricity at a minimum tariff of 3.7 cents. Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and Federal Energy Minister Umer Ayub Khan were the chief guests. MD PPDB, CEO AEDB and CEO of Zhenfa Pakistan New Energy Company signed the letter of support.
Addressing the ceremony, the CM stated the energy needs of Punjab is greater than other provinces due to the size of its population and developing economy adding that provincial government is committed to fulfilling energy needs from its resources.
Around 70 per cent of total electricity product is used in Punjab and the province pays 82 per cent revenue of the national income generated from the electricity sector, he said. The PTI government is working for cheap electricity generation as the past government set up expensive energy projects which burdened the masses, he added.
He announced that government offices will be converted to solar energy in phases adding that conversion of 950 BHUs to solar energy is in progress.
