CS briefs Cabinet about govt affairs, administrative structure, rules of business
Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi presided over the first Provincial Cabinet meeting at CM Office today in which Caretaker CM congratulated the Caretaker Provincial Ministers for assuming their responsibilities. It was pledged during the meeting to ensure holding of transparent, fair, independent and peaceful general elections. Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi while addressing the meeting emphasized that basic responsibility of the Caretaker government is to hold transparent and fair elections adding that in the light of Election Commission of Pakistan directions we would ensure holding of general elections in a transparent and fair manner. He desired to undertake such public welfare works which can provide real relief to the masses.
The Punjab Caretaker Cabinet by treading on the footsteps of Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi voluntarily announced not to take salary and official residence. Any Minister of Caretaker Punjab Cabinet will not take salary or official residence. Approval was granted to allocate rupees one billion funds to provide financial assistance to the families of police martyrs during the meeting. Rupees 35 lac financial assistance per family will be provided to the families of police martyrs.
For the past one and a half years the police officers and jawans laid down their precious lives but their families were not provided any financial assistance. It was decided to ease departmental rules to induct children of martyrs in police and a special relaxation will be given to the martyrs children regarding height and chest measurements. Financial assistance for the widows of police officers and jawans has been enhanced from rupees 2500 to rupees 25 thousand.
Inspector General of Police and senior police officials will hold open kutcheries for prompt redressal of public grievances. Immediate orders will be issued to make expeditious action on public complaints in the open kutcheries. Caretaker CM while directing to make advance planning in order to provide maximum relief to the people during Ramzan-ul-Mubarik said that preparation for Ramzan package should be undertaken from today onwards so that people can receive relief in real terms during the Holy month of Ramazan.
Caretaker CM directed all Provincial Ministers to undertake visits of various cities so as to review availability of subsidised flour in the markets. Caretaker CM ordered to launch a wide scale crackdown and an indiscriminate action against land- grabbers and land mafias along with stopping usage of of ice and other narcotics in the educational institutions. Caretaker CM highlighted that we have to save our new generation from narcotics.
Approval was granted during the meeting to reconstitute Cabinet Standing Committees for Finance and Development, Legal Affairs and Privatisation and Law and Order. The Caretaker Cabinet accorded a formal approval for the appointment of Doctor Usman Anwar on the post of Inspector General of Police Punjab. The Cabinet was given a briefing about law and order situation in the province and launching crackdown against criminal elements. The Cabinet was also given briefing about wheat reserves and its needs.
Chief Secretary briefed the Cabinet about government affairs, duties and performance of departments, administrative structure and rules of business. It was apprised during the Cabinet meeting that the Punjab government has 14 lac 80 thousand metric tonnes wheat available while 2 lac 50 thousand metric tonnes wheat is being procured from PASSCO. 10 Kg wheat bag is available for 648 rupees and flour mills are being released 26 thousand metric tonnes wheat daily. Caretaker Provincial Ministers Doctor Javed Akram, SM Tanvir, Ibrahim Murad, Bilal Afzal, Jamal Nasir, Mansoor Qadir, Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, Amir Mir, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Inspector General of Police Doctor Usman Anwar and concerned officials attended the meeting.
