Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar inaugurated the motor vehicle registration smart card system on Tuesday by pushing the button at the office of Excise & Taxation Director General. After the inauguration, he visited the central control room and inspected the issuance of smart cards to the general public. He was also given a briefing about the programme. Talking to the media afterwards, the CM said that process of motor vehicles registration has entered into a new phase today. Now, vehicle owners will be issued smart cards instead of registration books and this would eliminate chances of forgery and theft. People will also get rid of registration books as detailed data of the vehicle as well as the owner will be stored in the NFC chip of the smart card which will be provided to the people in a short span of time. He informed that the Excise & Taxation Department has the capacity to issue 20,000 to 30,000 smart registration cards everyday while 7,000 to 8,000 registration cards are being issued nowadays. The smart card scheme has been started to facilitate the general public and a mechanism has also been designed for its timely dispatch to the concerned citizens. The card will be issued within 48 hours after the payment of required fee of new registration or the card in any district of the province, he added. This card would be sent to the owner of the vehicle through a courier service. The CM said that the registration card will be issued in Islamabad within a month against a sum of Rs 1,500 while Rs 695 is received in Sindh for this purpose. An improved card having multifarious features will be issued in Punjab through courier service in just Rs 520 and this system will also be extended to every district, he said. Replying to a question, the CM said that inquiry would be held about an audio-tape with regard to a hospital of Rawalpindi and assured that nothing illegal would be done. “Everything would be done in accordance with the law and impartial investigation would be held,” he added. To another question, he said that postings and transfers are being done within the ambit of law. “Punjab is a large province which requires posting and transfer for running the administrative matters. But, nothing illegal would be done nor the same would be allowed by us,” he assured. To another question, Buzdar said that he has taken notice of increase in prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in Punjab and its artificial shortage and also issued instructions to the Chief Secretary (CS) in this regard. To a question, the CM said that a ceremony with regard to 100 day plan will be held on Saturday this year and necessary arrangements are being made in this regard. Provincial Excise Minister Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad, CS, excise secretary, Spokesman to CM Dr Shahbaz Gill and others were also present on the occasion. Separately, Buzdar presided over a high-level meeting at his office which lasted for four hours. The meeting took a detailed review of performance of different departments including revenue, energy, environment, information and culture, excise and taxation and food. The CM put up questions about departmental performance, 100-day plans and future roadmap of the departments. He inquired what benefits have been provided to the people through the steps taken by these departments. He also directed to provide in black and white the details of steps taken with regard to 100-day plan of the government. Talking to the participants, he said that departments will have to show performance. Along with it, overcoming of electricity theft as well as energy conservation should be ensured. He assured that Punjab government will fulfill its responsibilities with regard to overcoming the environmental degradation. He expressed satisfaction that effective measures taken by the environment department have prevented smog. He directed that a culture-calendar should be prepared to preserve the multi-faceted folk-culture of the province. The food department should devise its policy keeping in view the future needs of wheat and sugarcane, he added. Provincial Ministers Malik Muhammad Anwar, Muhammad Akhtar, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Samiullah Chaudhry, concerned secretaries and high officials attended the meeting. Separately, a delegation of businessmen led by former caretaker minister Anjum Nisar called on Buzdar at his office. Talking on the occasion, the CM said that a facilitating environment has been arranged for boasting the investment in the province as industrial growth also catalyses new employment opportunities. Published in Daily Times, December 19th 2018.