LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved the establishment of a national park over an area of 8740 acres at Kheri Murat near Fateh Jang and another park at Pabbi near Kharian over 38,874 acres. It also approved an expansion of the Lal Suhanra National Park in Bahawalpur which will expand over an area of 162,567 acres.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the meeting. On the occasion, the Cabinet approved to expand the scope of Walled City of Lahore Authority to the whole of the province along with giving in-principle approval to renaming it as Walled City and Heritage Area Authority Punjab.
Probation of Offenders Amendment Act 2020 was approved besides the approval of Punjab Payroll Act 2020 and Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Probationer Release Amendment Act 2020. Approval in the rules and regulations of Mines and Oilfields and Mineral Development (Government Control) Act 1948 was also given. Similarly, signing of MoU between Chinese city Qingdao and Faisalabad Municipal Corporation Administration was approved for bilateral exchange of delegations.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved amendments in section 6 of PEPRA Act 2009 along with the approval of amendments in rules 12 and 59 of Punjab Procurement Rules 2014 (Amended 2019).
Moreover, for the appointment of permanent President/CEO of Punjab Provincial Cooperatives Bank Limited, the meeting agreed to constitute a committee that will be chaired by the Punjab Finance Minister. Approval of presenting the annual report of provincial ombudsman for the year 2018 before Punjab Assembly has approved along with the approval of rules and regulations for the appointment of Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau.
The meeting also approved a draft law for tabling a resolution in the Punjab Assembly relating to 'Namoos-e-Risalat' (PBUH). Similarly, approval was granted to scrap the requirement of Rs 100 stamp paper on sale of registered motor cars and transfer of registration under article 23 (C) of schedule 1 of Stamp Act 1899.
While addressing the meeting, the CM said that necessary reforms have been introduced in the probation and payroll system by setting up probation and parole service to improve the arrangements. "Steps taken for overcoming price-hike have yielded positive results and rates of basic food items in Punjab are less than other provinces. The administration has been activated against price-hike and hoarders and profiteers will not escape from the grip of law," he added.
On the occasion, the Cabinet unanimously approved the resolution presented by Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat to express complete confidence over the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020