Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting of the resource mobilization committee at his office to review different proposals for enhancing the provincial resources. The CM constituted a committee under Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan to submit a comprehensive plan for enhancing the provincial resources.
Addressing the participants, the CM maintained the province is going through unusual circumstances due to coronavirus pandemic. The government will not burden the poor segments of the society as protection of the interests of the underprivileged is the pivot of PTI’s policies, he emphasised. He assured welfare of the impecunious strata will be fully taken care of in the upcoming budget.
The CM directed to take innovative steps for increasing the provincial resources and steps should be proposed while keeping in view the difficulties and needs of the common man. He asked the line departments to devise a comprehensive strategy for achieving their targets and every effort should be made to provide relief to the masses. Punjab is full of resources and there is a need to strengthen the economy by utilizing them, he said. Attention should be paid to new steps to increase the financial resources of the province, he continued and added that revival of economic activities will help generate new employment opportunities.
Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Provincial Ministers Mian Mahmood-ul-Rasheed, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mohsin Leghari, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed, Advisor Dr Salman Shah, Chief Secretary and secretaries of the concerned departments attended the meeting. Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht participated through video link.
Meanwhile, the chief minister said that instructions have been issued to police and administration for strict compliance of coronavirus SOPs and made it clear that commercial areas and business houses will have to follow governmental instructions in toto. He reiterated that legal action will be initiated in case of any violation and implementation on governmental measures will be ensured. He emphasized that no one will be allowed to take any unlawful benefit of easing of lockdown. Everyone will have to show responsibility, he added. The CM stated that decisions are being made in consultation with all the stakeholders and under the guidance of the federal government. The people should follow governmental instructions in letter and spirit because it is their own interest, he said. Continuation of employment generation activities is imperative, as well as observation of SOPs, and people can protect themselves by maintaining social distancing and following the policy of care, the CM added.
Separately, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the death of Dr Rahat Maqsood due to coronavirus in Jinnah Hospital. He has extended sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.
