Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed the Punjab government to provide immediate relief to general public against inflation.

He ordered strict measures against hoarders to control inflation. The prime minister expressed these views during a briefing by Adviser of Chief Minister Punjab Dr Salman Shah on provincial development.

The prime minister was informed about the measures taken by the Punjab government and the future strategy on social and economic progress and promotion of others sectors particularly agriculture and industries. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was also present in the briefing.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan directed the institutions concerned to devise an effective strategy on the industrial zoning and town planning to avert the environmental and civic issues. In a meeting with the representatives of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the prime minister said the industrial zoning and town planning were ignored in the past that had triggered pollution, dearth of basic amenities and other civic problems, a PM Office statement said.

Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, provincial ministers Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Sumsam Bukhari, Spokesperson of Punjab Government Shahbaz Gill, Chief Secretary Yousuf Nasim Khokahr and senior officers attended the meeting. Special Assistants to PM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Naeemul Haq and Nadeem Afzal Chan were also present.

The representatives of the LCCI expressed their confidence in the measures being taken by the government including the documentation of the economy and tax reforms besides assuring him of their cooperation.

They informed the prime minister about the issues faced by their community regarding the ease of doing business and industrial zoning.

The prime minister told the businessmen about the government’s measures to bring ease of doing business and the facilitation of the business community which would soon start benefiting from them.

Highlighting the importance of the industrial growth, the prime minister said that in 1960s, Pakistan had been one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Unfortunately, the country lost the race for falling prey to a negative mindset, he added.

He said industrial growth and wealth creation was inevitable for the national development that would beget job opportunities.

The prime minister assured the representatives for resolution of their issues and said that he would be in constant contact with them. The LCCI representatives also apprised the prime minister on a campaign to plant 100,000 saplings and requested him for its launch.

On the other hand, Imran Khan directed the Punjab government to immediately design and execute a new master plan of the Lahore city.

Chairing a high level meeting to discuss the establishment of industrial zones, the prime minister said the new master plan for Lahore was inevitable considering the multiplied size of population and haphazard growth of the city.

The prime minister was briefed on the industrial zoning, its social and economic impacts particularly on the population, heritage, tourism and historical buildings. He was also informed about the master plan of Lahore.

The prime minister said along with the industrial and agricultural development, the preservation of historical buildings and promotion of tourism was equally important.

Imran Khan, lamenting the negligence and maladministration by the previous governments towards Lahore city, called for urgent measures by Punjab government to tackle the challenges of environmental pollution and clean water supply to the residents.