Meets British HC, Maulana Tariq Jamil
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi inaugurated the pilot project of the Environment Protection Department’s anti-smog squad at his office.
The squad would comprise the traffic police, transport and environmental protection department.
Secretary EPD briefed about the working of the squad and the process of checking the vehicular smoke.
The CM appreciated that the anti-smog squad would regularly check vehicles emitting smoke in the city and action would be taken against vehicles emitting smoke beyond the prescribed limit. He directed that the anti-smog squad should also ensure the checking of vehicles at the entry points of Lahore city.
Provincial Minister for Environment and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat, DG EPD and others were also present.
Meanwhile, The British High Commissioner Dr. Christian Turner met with Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and former federal minister Moonis Elahi at the chief minister’s office and discussed matters of mutual interest. Punjab and the UK agreed to promote cooperation in various fields including health and technical education.
The British high commissioner expressed his regret over the loss of life and property due to floods and vowed to continue cooperating with the Punjab government in education, health and other sectors.
CM termed Pakistan and the UK strong partners of development and prosperity and appreciated the UK’s contribution to helping the flood victims.
The provincial government values British cooperation for improvement in peace and security and social sectors; he said and expressed the desire to expand the bilateral relations in different fields.
The government would extend the ongoing reforms program initiated with British cooperation in different sectors; he stated and added that a comprehensive plan has been devised for the rehabilitation of flood-affected areas and the victims.
The survey has started to recover the losses of livestock; he mentioned and informed that houses would be built for the flood victims.
Chief Minister Elahi said that a plan was devised to secure the rainwater in the mountainous area of Koh-e-Sulaiman in 2002 but the subsequent government didn’t do any work on this project. Now, the provincial government was going to restart this scheme; he added and hoped that this beneficial project would help to deal with the situation caused by rains in Koh-e-Sulaiman. Alongside, the government was also lifting the ban on recruitment early to provide jobs, he concluded. Advisor Amer Saeed Raan, UK’s representative in Punjab Ms Clara Strandhoj, political advisor Talal Raza and senior development advisor Sana Zia were also present.
Furthermore, renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil met Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi at CMO on Wednesday.
Talking on the occasion, the CM said that the religious scholars are the guardians of the ideological frontiers of the country and he highly appreciates their invaluable services for the country.
He lauded the religious scholars for always providing prudent guidance to the nation on important occasions. Parvez Elahi said that the government offices including CM office, Governor House and other important places are decorated with the Quranic verses.
He informed that the government has decided to make a mandatory break in all the government offices from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm in the afternoon to offer Zuhr prayer.
He said, “We have also done legislation with regard to usury and have fixed punishment upto 10 years for those doing usury business privately.”
The CM said that by the grace of Allah Almighty the government is succeeded in incorporating the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (PBUH) affidavit in the marriage certificate.
