Highlights

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27/03/24

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a review meeting of the Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab (IDAP).

CCO IDAP gave a detailed briefing on the functions and challenges of IDAP. He briefed the Chief Minister about various ongoing and upcoming projects projects of IDAP.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her concern over the delay in the completion of Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) Complex. She directed to take measures to shift DHQ Mianwali to new building, besides completing Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha and Cancer Hospital Lahore within stipulated time.

Madam Chief Minister also directed to complete and operationalize Layyah and Bahawalnagar General Hospitals, and Nishtar II Hospital Multan at the earliest.

Madam Chief Minister said, “The credit for establishing an institution like Infrastructure Development Authority of Punjab (IDAP) goes to Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.”

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bukhari, Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Soheb Ahmed Malik, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Secretaries Finance, C&W, I&C, and other senior officers also attended the meeting.

27/03/24

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to create a new department for anti-narcotics, while chairing a review meeting on Department of Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control. She also directed to clear the backlog of registration plates of motor vehicles.

Madam Chief Minister said, “All resourceful people who are not paying tax currently should be brought into the tax net.” She added,”Tax on houses needs to be rationalized.” Madam Chief Minister directed the authorities concerned to prepare an assessment report on the difference of property tax due to mismatch in the properties’ rental values and DC rates. She approved to set up a tax consultancy unit for proper evaluation of tax.

Earlier, Madam Chief Minister was briefed that 13 excise check posts will be established to prevent smuggling of goods and drugs. Moreover, the launch of e-stamped documents for e-registrations of vehicles will result in 12.5% increase in tax collection. The revival of opium factory and the review of pharmaceuticals will add a tax revenue of Rs 900 million. The authorities concerned also apprised the Chief Minister that Excise Department will start providing services through Dastak Program at people’s doorsteps. Excise Department will also work with Safe City Authority for the recovery of challans.

Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Secretaries Finance, Excise and other senior officers concerned attended the meeting.

26/03/24

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced to give 50,000 solar systems across Punjab under Chief Minister Roshan Gharana Program. She was chairing a review meeting on Solar home solution.

With the Budget outlay of Rs 12.6 billion, 50,000 protected consumers using 100 units monthly will be given solar systems through balloting in Phase-I. Gradually home based solar systems will be provided to other consumers of Punjab. A solar system will include advanced solar plate, inverter, battery and other allied accessories.

Madam Chief Minister directed to initiate immediate steps for the installation of one kilowatt solar systems. She also directed to bring in solar systems of the latest technology.

Provincial Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Secretaries Energy, Finance, Chief Executive Officer PPDCL, Managing Director PPDB and other relevant officers attended the meeting.

20/03/24

“The provision of bikes to students is a revolutionary scheme under Chief Minister's Youth Initiative, said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who witnessed the signing of an MoU between Transport Department and Bank of Punjab for the provision of 20,000 bikes to students on easy monthly instalments. Secretary Transport Ahmed Javed Qazi and President Bank of Punjab Zafar Masood. signed the MOU.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said,”19,000 petrol and 1,000 electric bikes will be given to the students free of interest in monthly installments.” She explained,” The monthly installment of petrol bike will be Rs 5000, whereas it would be less than Rs 10,000 for the e-bike.”

Madam Chief Minister said,” The Government will bear interest on providing bikes to students on easy installments in collaboration with the Bank of Punjab.” She added,” The provision of bikes to students will revolutionize their lives. Personal ride will ensure ease of travel and saving of time in their daily lives, which will lead to improvement in their academic performance.”

Madam Chief Minister noted,” Equal representation of male and female students in the distribution of bikes is welcome.”

Madam Chief Minister inspected the proposed electric and petrol bikes for students. She asked about the price of the bikes and checked their quality, and directed to match color of bikes with the color of Punjab government's green logo.

The Chief Minister said,” Registration of students for bikes will start as soon as possible.” She added,” After the draw in May, delivery of bikes will start in the same month.”

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Provincial Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Provincial Minister Transport and Masstransit Bilal Akbar Khan, Chief Secretary, Secretary Transport and Mass Transit, Finance, HED, Chairman PITB, President Bank of Punjab Zafar Masood, MD PMA, Secretary PTA Punjab, Secretary RTA Lahore and other officers concerned attended the meetings..

19/03/24

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired third meeting of the Provincial cabinet. The Cabinet ratified the approval of annual budget and supplementary budget grant for the year 2023-24. The approval to handover Lahore Knowledge Park to Punjab Central Business District Development Authority was also given by the cabinet. The land will be transferred to CBD to build Pakistan's largest IT city.

Madam Chief Minister said,” Pakistan's first IT city is being built in Lahore.” She added,” Tech giants like Google and Microsoft have already shown their interests in the IT City.” She directed to complete both towers of IT City in one year.

Madam Chief Minister highlighted,” The world's major educational institutions will be invited to build campuses in the Knowledge City.” She added,” There will be a Film City too.”

The Cabinet also approved project for the supply of 20,000 petrol and electric bikes by the Bank of Punjab. Madam Chief Minister said,” Electric bikes are essential to reduce environmental pollution but are currently not that much viable due to risk of battery theft and low mileage. Therefore, It has been decided to give petrol bikes along with electric bikes.” She added,” To reduce burden on students, the down payment will be reduced to Rs 25,000 and the monthly installment will also be less than Rs 5,000.”

Madam Chief Minister said,” The distribution of bikes will start in May this year.” She added,” A separate scheme will be introduced to give bikes to students who have achieved significant success in examinations.”

On the direction of court, the cabinet approved the trial of founder PTI and Shah Mehmood Qureshi from Adiala Jail. The Cabinet also gave in-principle approval for the extension of posting on deputation of CEO Punjab Transport Company. The Cabinet approved the provincial representation of Punjab in the Council of Common Interest Secretariat. The approval for the transfer of Government of Punjab’s Grade 19 Vacancy in Council of Common Interests Secretariat Islamabad was also granted. Punjab Air Ambulance Project was also discussed in the meeting. Madam Chief Minister said,” All facilities are available for the rich and the influential people, but nothing to save life of a poor man.” She added,” We want to provide every facility of timely treatment to our people.” The Chief Minister lamented,” It is unfortunate that Sargodha does not have adequate facilities for the treatment and transfer of heart attack patients.” She added،” Sitting in offices, it seems that air ambulance is not needed, but it is needed, because Rescue 1122 received 11 hundred calls for air ambulance in emergencies.”

Madam Chief Minister highlighted,” In Lahore PIC Emergency, heart attack patients arrived from distant areas within 8 hours. Therefore, Air Ambulance Project is very much needed, but it will be rolled out on trial basis in the first phase.” The Chief Minister said,” We should feel pain for the poor. How sad it was that sanitary workers lost their lives in Faisalabad due to lack of safety kits.” The Cabinet also gave in principle approval to reduce the number of law officers in Punjab to 66 after following a strict performance-based criterion. Madam Chief Minister said,” I have not recommended anyone.” She added,” Corruption, political affiliation and incompetence will not be tolerated in Government service.” Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary, IG Punjab Police, Secretaries and other senior officers concerned attended the meeting.