Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday took notice of ‘overbilling’ of the domestic gas consumers and directed the minister for petroleum to conduct immediate inquiry into the matter, according to a statement issued by the PM Office. The prime minister said that putting extra burden of gas prices on the masses was unjustified, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was on a day-long visit to Lahore on Sunday, approved the ‘Punjab Spatial Strategy’ and assured the provincial government of all possible support by the federal government.
The prime minister chaired a meeting over the capacity enhancement of Punjab government’s administration and financial resources, the PM Office said in a separate statement. During the meeting, the prime minister stressed the need for restructuring of the administrative infrastructure for the welfare of the people. The meeting considered proposals for the utilization of technology, investment and use of human resource for achieving the economic growth. Dr Salman Shan, a renowned economist, gave a detailed briefing. The meeting also deliberated upon the measures for increasing the skilled manpower and for the growth of agriculture, industry, energy and infrastructure.
Deliberations took place on the steps that should be taken to better promote agriculture, industry, power, infrastructure, and skilled human resource. It was advised that emphasis be given on increasing agricultural and industrial output and also on identifying ways to diversify the range of products being manufactured.
The development plan for 50 cities and 36 major districts of Punjab also came under discussion and it was decided that at least 15 cities of the province be declared ‘economic hubs’.
The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for National Health Services Amer Mehmood Kiani, Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant to PM on Political Affairs Naeemul Haq, Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Agriculture Malik Nauman Langrial, Minister for Finance Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Minister for Housing Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Minister for Irrigation Mohsin Leghari, Minister for Industry Mian Aslam Iqbal and other senior officials. The prime minister also chaired a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Punjab media strategy committee which was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, senior minister Aleem Khan and others. During the meeting, Chohan briefed the prime minister on the media strategy adopted in Punjab so far. Khan subsequently instructed the committee to highlight development projects initiated by the provincial government and defend the party and the government in a more effective manner in the media. The provincial task force on housing informed the prime minister about progress on Naya Pakistan Housing Programme. Punjab Minister for Housing Mehmood-ur-Rasheed was present during the briefing.
Published in Daily Times, February 4th 2019.
