Two seats are approve by cabinet for minorities in HEIs

Chairing the provincial cabinet meeting here on Thursday Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the public service journey will continue and no-one will be permitted to disrupt it. 

Two seats are approve by cabinet under the chairmanship of CM for admission to higher education institutions in the public sector. The decision was made under the Minority Empowerment Plan for Punjab. It also provided LDA Land Use Regulations, 2019 and amendment in LDA Private Housing Schemes Laws, in addition to setting up a committee to study issues related to LDA private housing schemes. 

This committee will be taking more action in the light of provincial ministers’ recommendations. Along with the announcement of new supplementary grants, the cabinet has imposed a ban on excessive spending to ensure strict financial discipline. However, wage and pension payments will proceed as per usual. Approval of amendment to the legislation in cabinet standing committee TORs was approved to give it additional powers. 

A one-year extension of the provincial ombudsman’s service contract was approved and direction was also given to finalize matters concerning the appointment of Punjab Environmental Tribunal, Lahore’s (technical) member.

In the meantime, a ministerial committee was set up to investigate the establishment of a 100-bed hospital in the old food department building in Multan, and to present its final recommendations. The meeting also endorsed minutes of the 28th Punjab cabinet meeting along with the approval of decisions taken at the 29th, 30th and 31st Cabinet Standing Committee on Finance and Development meetings.

Similarly, in addition to endorsing decisions taken at the 22nd meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee on Finance and Growth on 27 February, 10 March, 19 March and 28 March, decisions were also endorsed.

The CM greeted Cabinet meeting with Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik.

I will be moving forward with the whole team and going to ensure good governance in every possible way. Delivery of the service will be further enhanced to facilitate the users, he said. He requested the government machinery to solve public problems on a priority basis and added that there should be support for good performers. 

In these challenging circumstances, he assured, the government machinery will proactively work to deal with the prevailing challenges and the PTI-led government stands with the people. 

Everyone will have to fulfill their duties, and the goal for wheat procurement will be reached. He stressed that the interest of farmers will be secured, and that operation will continue against hoarders. He said it released Rs25 billion to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

The CM announced that deduction made in the wages of doctors and other health professionals will be restored at the head of the coronavirus fund and they will be paying full salary. The health department has been given guidance in this regard, he added.

Doctors and other personnel involved in treating patients with coronavirus will receive an extra paycheck from the month of April, and they will receive this additional payment until this pandemic is resolved, he added. 

The meeting was briefed on wheat production and coronavirus matters. The meeting was attended by ministers, counsellors, special assistants, chief secretary and others.