The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved the appointment of Atif Bajwa as President of Bank of Punjab.
The 23rd provincial cabinet meeting was chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. The meeting also decided to constitute Women Hostel Authority.
The Cabinet further decided to give ex-post facto approval to Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) constituted in the province and authorized cabinet sub-committee for law and order for granting necessary ex-post facto approval. The meeting also decided to establish E-Rozgar Centers in colleges and further decided to abolish superstructure tax on sale deeds in special economic zones and industrial estates.
Approval of constitution of boards of management for Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health Multan was also granted while the agenda item of up-gradation of different posts in the light of recommendations of a committee headed by ACS was deferred.
The meeting approved signing of MoU for plantation in Karole Forest Shahdarah and measurement as well as estimation of trees falling in the way of dualization of motorway link Kohat via Jand, Pindi Ghaib to Khushalgarh (package-I) project. It decided to increase the license fee for keeping grey and black Francolins as a pet , and approved amendments in Punjab Urial Conservation, Protection and Trophy Hunting (Committees) Rules 2016 and inclusion of grizzly Bear in Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation & Management) Amendment Act 2007.
Approval of amendments in section 2(1)(a)(h)(j) of Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016 was granted and the meeting also decided to empower the Deputy Commissioners for the domain of 'ease of doing businesses'.
The Punjab cabinet decided to amend the Punjab Local Government (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules 2018 and gave approval to amendments in OGRA Ordinance 2002 and the draft summary about the formulation of Pakistan Petroleum Exploration and Production Regulatory Authority.
While addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized that exploitation of sugarcane farmers will not be tolerated and assured to help the full payment of their crops. He directed that dysfunctional sugar mills must be restarted by January 10 and agriculture as well as food departments should keep a vigilant eye on the situation.
He further directed to constitute a committee for monitoring the situation in future and added that cabinet legislative committee should carry out necessary legislation in this regard.
"The Ministers should monitor the crushing season and administrative officers ensure the protection of sugarcane farmers' rights in their districts," he added.
On the occasion, the Punjab food secretary gave a briefing on sugarcane crushing season and said that so far 8.4 million metric tons of sugarcane was crushed.
"Rs22 billion have been paid to farmers this year while 99 percent of the total payment was made to sugarcane growers last year."