LAHORE: To support farmers and families of deceased employees, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has announced to provide interest-free loans to the farmers during the crop season and financial assistance for the families of deceased employees within three months.

He announced the measures during a meeting of the Standing Committee of Cabinet on Legislative Business and Privatisation here on Thursday. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeshan Malik and Punjab Law Minister Sohaib Bharath were also present on this occasion.

Regarding housing schemes, the minister clarified that stamp duty exemption cannot be granted, but specific schemes for martyrs could be exempted. The minister also directed the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary to determine the benefits of the Chairperson of the Drug Courts in consultation with the provincial secretaries of finance and law.

He directed the Punjab Tourism Secretary to ensure the effective use of available resources and promote sites that are part of our true cultural heritage. He also stressed the need to promote religious tourism in Punjab.

On this occasion, the meeting discussed a nine-point agenda, including the execution of the Kisan Card Scheme with the Bank of Punjab, the approval of the Jalalpur Irrigation Project with Pakistan Railways and amendments to the Social Security Ordinance 1965 and the Punjab Heritage Act 2005.

While addressing the meeting, the Punjab Local Government Minister emphasised the importance of paying taxes, saying citizens should consider it a national duty.

The Law minister appreciated the proposed amendments to the Punjab Employees Social Security Institute for the establishment of a medical college in Faisalabad.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024