Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar gave in-principle approval to initiating spadework on four small dams in Koh-e-Suleman area for saving hill-torrents’ water.

He chaired a meeting at his office in which secretary irrigation apprised the CM about different matters relating to the construction of small dams. The CM stated that the Punjab government is pondering over different options for small dams as such water reservoir facility is need of the hour. The abundance of hill-torrents’ water is wasted every year and the project will help to save this natural resource for different purposes. People of backward areas will also get clean drinking water; he added and further stated that technical study was underway in the first phase.

Provincial Minister Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, secretaries of finance and irrigation departments and others attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has given in-principle approval to introducing bio-metric verification system for motor vehicles’ registration in the province. For this purpose, Punjab Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969 will be amended to bio-metrically verify the vehicles registration instead of transfer order forms.

In this regard, the CM has stated that government is transforming the obsolete system to make it commensurate with the modern-day needs. Now, the citizens would be able to register their vehicles through NADRA and Excise office through biometric verification and this facility will also be available at authorized motor dealers. The CM directed that a plan be devised about bio-metric verification of applicants in their homes through cellular phones. He also directed that process of issuance of motor vehicles number plates be further expedited as people are facing difficulty. I want to resolve this issue at the earliest as the delay has already occurred in this regard and there is no room for the further hold-up.

The CM chaired a meeting at his office in which different matters pertaining to the Excise & Taxation Department including the issuance of number plates and a new system of motor vehicles registration were reviewed. Excise Minister Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed, Chief Secretary, secretaries of finance, law and excise & taxation departments, MD PPRA, Chairman PITB and others attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar will preside over special provincial cabinet meeting today (September 2). Two years performance report will be presented in the meeting which will be attended by ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary and administrative secretaries.

Punjab government will present its two years performance report at a ceremony to be held at 90-Shara-e-Quaid-i-Azam tomorrow. Provincial Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht will dilate on two years performance of government departments. Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar will be the chief guest and will also address to ceremony. Provincial Ministers, secretaries and concerned authorities will attend the ceremony. Usman Buzdar said that merit, transparency and supremacy of law have been ensured in the province. He said that positive results have been yielded as a result of zero-tolerance policy of the government against corruption. He said that corona, locust attack besides other challenges have been dealt effectively. Government has launched those projects in a short span of two years which the past governments had failed to execute even in decades. Chief Minister said that he believes in practical measures rather than pomp and show. He said that process of institutional reforms has been accelerated in the province. Relief has been provided to the people by utilizing digital technology, he added.