The Punjab cabinet has approved drafts of 17 amendment bills regarding Punjab Government Rules of Business-2011 and running of the affairs of local government, information, culture and youth affairs, revenue, labour, health, law and social welfare departments, recently transferred to the provinces in the wake of 18th constitutional amendment.
These amendment bills will be presented before the provincial assembly for final approval in the next session that is expected to commence on March 11. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Punjab Cabinet that was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Tuesday, disclosed an official.
The Chief Minister also issued instructions for setting up a cabinet committee for the strict implementation of minimum wages law in the light of the orders of Supreme Court. The committee will submit its recommendations after considering various aspects of the matter.
The meeting also reviewed law and order situation in the province besides taking important decisions for computerisation of examination system and immediate removal of the flaws in this regard. It was decided that instead of sitting in their offices, provincial secretaries will pay regular visits to districts for solution of people's problems besides improving efficiency of their departments as well as monitoring the performance of their officers.
Addressing the meeting, the CM said examination system has been computerised in the province first time in the country's history for ensuring its transparency. He said computerisation of examination system is a revolutionary step, however some flaws have been detected at the initial stages of online system and immediate measures should be taken for their removal. He also said wastage of the time of no student will be allowed due to online system and if any candidate failed to sit in the examination, a separate examination will be conducted. "There is no question of the wastage of the precious time of any student," he added.
Expressing his displeasure over the performance of Executive District Officers Education and Health, he said the army of such officers has failed to bring improvement in these sectors. He said in spite of availability of teachers and school buildings, failure to conduct classes is a proof of unsatisfactory performance of these officers.
"In future, EDOs Education will be selected through search committee so that they could make a positive impact on education sector. Half of the problems of the people would be resolved at their doorstep if the provincial secretaries visited divisions and districts on regular basis. Ministers, advisors and secretaries have been assigned the responsibility to monitor arrangements at examination centres of matriculation examination and I will also visit these centres for this purpose," he added.
On minimum wages, he said implementation of the law regarding minimum wages is the responsibility of the government and a cabinet committee headed by Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa is being set up, which will soon present its recommendations. The meeting decided that the committee will comprise Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Punjab Chief Secretary, Secretary Law and Secretary Labour.
Appreciating the performance of cabinet committee set up for amendment in the rules of various departments in the wake of 18th amendment, the Chief Minister said that the committee has performed its responsibilities with efficiency and commitment. He congratulated Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Chief Secretary, Secretary Law and Secretaries of the departments concerned on their performance.
Punjab Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa informed the meeting that the committee set up for amendment in the rules of various departments after 18th Amendment has given approval to 27 amendment bills of various departments so far and Punjab has taken the lead in the amendment of rules of business.
While giving a briefing regarding computerisation of examination system, Secretary Higher Education Haseeb Athar informed the meeting that two million students of nine boards of education of the province are appearing in the matriculation examination this year.
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