The Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave approval to Local Government Act and amendments to Punjab Power Generation Policy 2006, and also reviewed law and order situation in the province and the policy devised for the elimination of terrorism. The Punjab Cabinet met here on Friday with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the chair. The Cabinet also constituted a committee for amendment to Police Order 2002.
The committee will submit its report within a fortnight, an official disclosed. Addressing the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said maintenance of law and order is the top priority of the government, as peace is essential for development as well as promotion of investment and trade activities.
He said the dictator not only ruined national institutions but also flouted every norm of merit due to which all institutions are in a shambles. "Police stations have become a hotbed of crime and a symbol of terror for the aggrieved. Provision of prompt and inexpensive justice to people is collective responsibility and such reforms would have to be introduced under a comprehensive strategy, which could not only deliver justice to people without any discrimination but also help in reformation of traditional police culture and ensure respect and justice to the common man at police stations," he added.
Shahbaz said commissioners, district police officers and co-ordination officers have been posted in the province on the basis of merit with the clear instructions that they should perform their responsibilities in accordance with the law and provide justice to masses without any discrimination. Administrative machinery has also been directed to keep its doors open to the people and behave with the common man politely and in a civilised manner.
He said the government has promoted good governance and adopted merit policy and 34000 educators are being recruited in the province purely on the basis of merit so that such competent and qualified persons could be recruited who could play their role for ensuring a bright future for the young generation. He said he is also thankful to elected representatives who have supported him in upholding merit policy.
He said that destiny of the nation would change if merit was upheld and suitable persons were selected in every sector. He said corruption is gnawing at the roots of society and there is need for demonstrating political will and determination for eradication of this curse and to come up to the expectations of the masses.
He directed Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad and Provincial Minister Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa to talk to the authorities concerned for resolving the problems of the people due to heavy loadshedding in Southern Punjab. The Inspector General Police apprised the meeting of the law and order situation in the province, performance of police force and implementation of the policy for the elimination of terrorism. The meeting gave approval to Enhancement of Compensation Rates-Amendment in Section 67, Schedule 13th of Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965.
Punjab Local Government Minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa and Senator Pervez Rashid told newsmen that due to prevailing law and order situation in Pakistan the local bodies elections have been postponed for one year; however if the situation is improved before that then the elections would be held. Khosa said magistracy system would be restored in the province.
"There were a lot of flaws in the district government system given by the dictatorship, including a lack of co-ordination between provincial government and local governments, which increased rather than decreasing the problems of the masses, he added.
He said due to efforts and detailed deliberations of the provincial governments and mutual consensus of the provinces, the system given by the dictatorship is being changed and today's meeting of the Cabinet has given approval to the Local Government Act, which would be sent to the federal government.
He said local governments would be dissolved and administrators would be appointed before October 16. Replying to a question, he said funds were spent recklessly in the past and despite tall claims of utilisation of billions of rupees on development activities in Southern Punjab, nothing tangible is seen.
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