Daily Times

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over the 23rd provincial cabinet meeting at his office on Tuesday.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister emphasised that exploitation of sugarcane farmers will not be tolerated and assured to help the full payment of their crops. He directed that dysfunctional sugar mills must be restarted by January 10 and agriculture as well as food departments should keep a vigilant eye on the situation.

He further directed to constitute a committee for monitoring the situation in future and added that cabinet legislative committee should early perform necessary legislation in this regard. The ministers should monitor the crushing season and administrative officers ensure the protection of sugarcane farmers’ rights in their districts, he added.

The meeting decided to constitute women hostel authority along with the approval of the appointment of Atif Bajwa as the President of Bank of Punjab. The meeting further decided to give ex post facto approval to joint investigation teams constituted in the province and authorised cabinet sub-committee for law & order for granting necessary ex post facto approval. This sub-committee would give ex post facto approval of JITs after review and authority will rest with the cabinet sub-committee for law & order to constitute JITs in future. The meeting decided to establish e-rogzar centres in colleges and further decided to abolish superstructure tax for sale deeds in special economic zones and industrial estates.

Approval of constitution of boards of management for children’s hospital and the Institute of Child Health Multan was also granted while the agenda item of up-gradation of different posts in the light of recommendations of a committee headed by ACS was deferred. The meeting approved signing of MoU for plantation in Karole Forest Shahdarah and measurement as well as estimation of trees falling in the way of dualization of motorway link Kohat via Jand, Pindi Ghaib to Khushalgarh (package-I) project. The meeting approved to increase the license fee for keeping grey and black Francolins along with the approval of amendments in Punjab Urial Conservation, Protection and Trophy Hunting (Committees) Rules, 2016 and inclusion of grizzly Bear in Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation & Management) Amendment Act, 2007.

Approval of amendments in section 2 (1) (a) (h) (j) of Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act, 2016 was granted and the meeting also decided to empower the deputy commissioners for creating ease of doing businesses by the environment department at the district level. The Punjab cabinet decided to amend the Punjab Local Government (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 and gave approval to amendments in OGRA Ordinance, 2002 and the draft summary about the formulation of Pakistan Petroleum Exploration and Production Regulatory Authority. Minutes of 21st and 22nd meeting of Punjab cabinet were endorsed along with the approval of decisions made in the 20th meeting of cabinet standing committee for finance and development. Secretary food gave a briefing about sugarcane crushing season and said that so far 8.4 million metric tons sugarcane has been crushed. Rs22 billion have been paid to farmers this year while 99 percent payment was made to sugarcane growers last year. Ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary and secretaries attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Buzdar congratulated Hamza Khan for winning the British Junior Open Under-15 Championship. Usman Buzdar said that Hamza Khan bring laurels home by winning the title for Pakistan after eight years. He said that there was time when Pakistan was undisputed king of squash. He said that Hamza Khan has kept the tradition of Jahangeer Khan and Jansher Khan alive. He further stated that by exhibiting outstanding performance Hamza Khan proved himself as a professional and talented player. Hamza Khan achieved the British Junior Open Squash Championship title with hard working and dedication and I prayed that Allah Almighty grant more success to him in future as well, Usman Buzdar concluded.

Separately, Buzdar expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the crash of PAF training aircraft near Mianwali. He paid tributes to the martyred pilots Squadron Leader Haris Bin Khalid and Flying Officer Abaad ur Rehman. Usman Buzdar extended heartfelt sympathies and condolence to the bereaved family members.

Buzdar also expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of renowned jurist Fakhar ud Din G Ibrahim. Chief Minister while extending heartfelt sympathies and condolence to the bereaved family members paid tribute to the services of late Fakhar ud Din G Ibrahim for the supremacy of law and constitution.

He said that death of Fakhar ud Din G Ibrahim deprived the country of a man of principle whose gap will never be filled. He said that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace.