Punjab CM provides relief to common man

Cabinet okays removal of 11 toll plazas 8Hamza directs police to ensure law, order across province

The Punjab government has decided to remove 11 toll plazas from various highways across the province in a bid to provide relief to the public amid rising inflation in the country.

The decision was made at the fourth meeting of the provincial cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif at his office on Thursday.

The cabinet approved the Provincial Assembly (Privileges) Bill, 2022 and the Provincial Assembly (Secretariat Service) Bill, 2022. It extended the wheat release policy for two months and approved the formation of a cabinet committee on wheat, which will be headed by the provincial minister for food.

The meeting also extended the contract of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) director general (DG) based on his performance. In this regard, the chief minister said that a training programme should be launched to build capacity of forensic experts.

Moreover, the cabinet endorsed a decision to purchase vehicles for police. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure ventilation in prison vans for the convenience of detainees. The meeting ratified the decisions of the second meeting of the cabinet and congratulated the political and administrative teams on the approval of the provincial budget for fiscal year 2022-23 by the assembly. The Punjab chief secretary and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

Chairing a separate meeting on law and order, the chief minister expressed concern over the rise in crime rate in Lahore and other cities of the province.

The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to protect the life and property of the people.

He ordered indiscriminate action against those involved in heinous crimes. He urged police personnel to perform their duties in a highly proactive and efficient manner in order to control street crimes.

The CM maintained that an effective reward and punishment mechanism should be adopted to improve performance of the police force. Provincial Ministers Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Atta Ullah Tarar, inspector general of police, additional chief secretary (Home), secretaries concerned and senior officials attended the meeting.

Separately, the chief minister expressed grief over the demise of the mother of senior politician Dr Farooq Sattar.

In his condolence message, the CM conveyed his heartfelt condolence to Farooq Sattar and prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss with equanimity.