LG polls postponed for nine months: Economic package being worked out to facilitate masses: Buzdar

The Punjab government is working on an economic package to facilitate the masses and the provincial finance minister will give a detailed briefing in the next few days. This was disclosed by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar during video link media briefing about the decisions taken in the 28th Punjab cabinet meeting, here on Tuesday.
The chief minister stated that the cabinet approved the amendment in local bodies act and agreed to delay local bodies' elections for nine months keeping in view the prevailing situation. For this, an ordinance is being issued because May 5 is the final date of holding local bodies election.
The cabinet meeting was informed that there are 265 coronavirus patients in Punjab out of whom 176 patients are quarantined in DG Khan while 59 patients are in Lahore. Similarly, 12 are in Gujrat, seven in Gujranwala, three in Jhelum, two each in Rawalpindi and Multan and one each in Faisalabad and Mandi Bahauddin.
The Punjab cabinet paid tributes to Dr Usama Riaz of Gilgit Baltistan who sacrificed his life while treating coronavirus patients. We also appreciate the role being played by medical teams in the treatment of coronavirus patients in Punjab, the CM said.
The meeting was informed that the Punjab government has given two billion rupees to PDMA besides providing 600 millions of rupees to districts and Punjab cabinet has also endorsed the decision of giving one billion rupees to the Balochistan government.
The cabinet meeting decided to start distribution of Zakat one month earlier and recommendations are being forwarded to the federal government while the Bait-ul-Maal funds are being released for their early distribution.
The chief minister revealed that a committee has been constituted to review decrease in fee of private schools during holidays and before time summer holidays in schools. The committee will submit its recommendations in seven days to take further steps. Another committee has also been constituted under law minister Raja Basharat to contact parliamentary parties of opposition so that joint work could be done in this difficult hour, he said.
The cabinet also accorded in principle approval to the draft of 'The Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance, 2020."
The CM disclosed that three testing laboratories will be upgraded to level 3 in Lahore and approval has been given to establish new level 3 labs in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, DG Khan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. Rs 620 million have been approved for it, he added.
The cabinet also accorded approval to provide Rs 0.8 million as financial aid to the heirs of deceased coronavirus patients.
To a question, the chief minister emphasized that implementation on the steps being taken for safety from coronavirus will be ensured at every cost as section 144 is imposed but home delivery of eatables and medicines and the business of raw material used in the making of sanitizer etc., will not be affected; and in case of any problem, the administration can be approached.
To another question, he said that SOPs have been issued for mosques and advanced steps are being taken in mosques as the government is fully prepared to deal with the emergency situation.
To a question, he clarified that it is not curfew nor lockdown but steps have been taken by the government to protect the lives of the people and the services of the army have also be acquired under Article 245.
Provincial Ministers Yasmeen Rashid, Raja Basharat, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Hashim Jawan Bakht and secretary information were also present.
Earlier, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar presided over the 28th cabinet meeting at 90-SQA and paid tributes to Dr Usama Riaz who embraced martyrdom while treating corona patients.
The ex-post facto approval of requisition for acquiring the services of Pak Army under Article 245 was given along with the approval of the amendment in Punjab Local Government Act, 2019. Approval of amendment in Punjab Village, Panchayat and Neighbourhood Council Act, 2019 was also given.