Water Resources Management Programme: Punjab cabinet approves to seek ADB's assistance

Punjab Cabinet, which met here Monday, with chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in the chair, decided to get benefit from project readiness financing for Punjab Water Resources Management Programme and also gave approval to seek financial assistance from the ADB. The chief minister said that ADB will provide 90 percent funds for this mega project. Under the programme, remodelling and upgradation of D G Khan Canal system will be done with an amount of 68 million dollars. Meanwhile, upgradation and rehabilitation of upper Jhelum Canal system will be done through Water Resource Management Programme with an amount of 174 million dollars. He said that the project of using water of hill-torrents will be completed in D G Khan and Rajanpur with a huge amount of 316 million dollars. Along with it, Greater Thal Canal Phase-III will be completed with an amount of 600 million dollars to provide water to thousands of acres of land. It will also help in overcoming water-logging and salinity issues.
The Cabinet decided to start 2nd phase of Greater Thal Canal Project (Chobara Branch Canal System) and also accorded approval to take financial assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The CM said that 394,000 acre land in five districts including Jhang, Khushab, Bhakkar, Layyah and Muzaffargarh will be irrigated through Chobara Branch Canal System which will be completed at the cost of 190 million dollars.
The Cabinet approved steps for immediately removing hurdles in completion of civil work for installing 24km long 500kv transmission line from Guddu to Muzaffargarh. It also gave approval to the decision of ending reallocation policy for sugar mills in Punjab; and after this decision, sugar mills would not be relocated to any other area.
The Cabinet gave approval to the draft of the Punjab Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 2018. This act will help establish excise stations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan and Mianwali to curb narcotics.
The Cabinet approved reconstitution of Directorate of Reclamation and Probation and the meeting was informed by the Chief Minister that 51636 prisoners will benefit from this reform which is being done after a long gap of 92 years. It also gave approval to the draft of the Punjab Industries Rules, 2019 for dealing with matters pertaining to the control of cement plants and their expansions. It also accorded approval to the Punjab Sales Tax on Services (Refund) Rules, 2019 along with approval of proposed amendments in Partnership Act of 1932, to exempt private firms from paying registration fee.
The Cabinet gave approval to the notification relating to the establishment of Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology in DG Khan. It also approved the establishment of search committee and other necessary laws for the posting of VC Punjab University of Technology Rasool. It approved notification for the establishment of the Punjab Skills Development Authority which will ensure implementation of laws for the establishment of technical institutions. High standards will be ensured in governmental and private technical institutions to provide world-class education to the students.
The Cabinet also approved Punjab Schools Construction and Rehabilitation Program and one hundred model schools will be set up under this program with the cooperation of DFID. Rupees 1.20 billion will be spent on it while another amount of Rs 3.20 billion will be spent on the construction of 2500 classrooms. Similarly, one thousand computer labs and equal number of libraries will be upgraded in schools with an amount of Rs 1.64 billion.
The Punjab Cabinet also approved amendments in Aab Pak Authority Act. The meeting decided to scrap duty on Ethanol besides giving approval to amendments in Family Courts Act, 1964.
The Cabinet approved reconstitution of board of directors of Punjab Economic Research Institute. It also gave approval to exit of Punjab Rural Support Company from public sector companies list of Local Government Department. The establishment of DG Khan Waste Management Company was also approved.
The meeting reviewed matters pertaining to implementation of federal excise duty on crude oil besides reviewing matters relating to enforcement of Article 154 of Constitution of Pakistan 1973. Provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary and concerned officers attended the meeting.