Terming the approval of the Punjab Workers Welfare Fund Act 2019 from Punjab Assembly as a historic step, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday said that implementation of this act will help improve the living standard of industrial workers.
From now on, collection of taxes under the head of Punjab Workers Welfare Fund and providing relief to the industrial workers will be the responsibility of the Punjab government, the CM said, adding: "The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) will collect this fund at provincial level and different facilities would be provided to the industrial workers including setting up of residential colonies, free educational facilities for the children of industrial workers and timely provision of marriage grant for their daughters."
The CM said that the government will ensure timely and proper utilization of fund for the betterment and welfare of industrial workers. Speedy solution of the problems of industrial workers will be ensured and setting up of fund is an important milestone towards provincial autonomy, without any doubt, he said.
Moreover, on the special instruction of Chief Minister, Kisan platforms have been established in 31 vegetable markets of different cities of the province; after setting up of 32 model bazaars.
Usman Buzdar said the Punjab government will do whatever it takes to provide relief to the people; setting up of Kisan platforms in 31 vegetable markets will provide ease to the citizens. He said that free of cost land have been provided to them for selling their products directly in the market.
He said that facility of Kisan platforms have been provided in the vegetable markets of Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, DG Khan, Sargodha, Multan, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Sadiqabad, Mianwali, Toba Tek Singh, Burewala, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Bakker, Pakpattan, Okara, Gujrat, Rahim Yar Khan, Chakwal, Rajanpur, Chichawatni and Talagang.
The chief minister maintained that the people are getting vegetables at reasonable rates due to this initiative of the government. He said the government will ensure protection of rights of the people.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019