LAHORE: On Tuesday, the Punjab cabinet approved the largest program of mass weddings, providing financial support to 3,000 girls from poor families in the province.
The 17th meeting of the cabinet was presided over by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. At that meeting, the cabinet approved a Rs100,000 “wed money” (Rs0.1 million) ATM card for a bride. There will be up to 13 gifts, including dinner sets, clothes, and furniture.
The CM ordered an expansion of mass marriage. It also approved leasing 100,000 acres of land to farmers without land for three and five years to cultivate temporarily throughout Punjab.
27 buses will arrive in the first phase of an e-bus service plan that was approved at the meeting. In order to charge e-buses, approximately 1.2 MW of solar panels will be installed in their parking lot.
By the end of this year, 680 e-buses will be operational across Punjab.
In Lahore, the CM sought the “electric taxi service plan.” She directed the province-wide strict monitoring of the prices of chicken and flour.
It was reported to the meeting that 170,000 Punjabi farmers had received Kisan cards. A total of 1.1 million farmers had submitted applications for the Green Tractor Scheme and 1.2 million for the Kisan card.
700,000 candidates for green tractors have been reviewed. The transfer of funds to the housing department for the purpose of building 839 houses under the New Pakistan Housing Scheme in Raiwind, Chiniot, and Sargodha was approved. For promotion to the positions of inspector, assistant sub-inspector, and sub-inspector, a five-year age relaxation has been approved.
The Punjab government’s annual helicopter maintenance was approved. The transfer of land in Sheikhupura to Pakistan State Oil for oil storage and other uses was approved by the cabinet.
The Board of Revenue and Punjab Bank reached an agreement to use the e-stamping system to collect taxes on the transfer of immovable property. The agriculture minister and technical member’s nomination for federal seed board representation was approved.
Punjab Health Initiatives Management Company’s board of directors was approved to be reappointed and new directors appointed to fill vacant positions. For the renovation of tertiary care hospitals, a release of Rs1.7 billion was approved for the purchase of furniture and equipment.
The Annual Development Programme was approved to include five major hospital development projects.
The board of commissioners of the healthcare commission was reconstituted and shares were transferred from the irrigation department to Punjab Power Development Company Limited.
The draft of the Waqf Administration, Trust, and Cooperative Societies Act for 2023’s legal framework was approved.
The Punjab Forensic Science Act of 2024 was passed, repealing the Punjab Forensic Act of 2007. The staff contract for the home department’s management information system was extended with approval from the cabinet.
The presiding officer for the Child Protection Court in Lahore was nominated and accepted. The sale deed for the “A” category property buyer was approved for implementation.
In the meeting, the Punjab Local Government Rules 2024 were approved, and each district will have a Joint Local Government Authority.
A high-level ministerial committee to amend the 1929 Prevention of Child Marriage Act was established. An award of Rs10m was endorsed for Ajoka Worldwide Theater Celebration at Alhamra, Lahore.
The Livestock and Dairy Development selection board meeting’s proceedings were approved. The Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board’s nomination for the board was approved.
The Livestock and Dairy Development and PITB helpline agreement was renewed with approval. A six-month extension of the employees’ contracts has been approved for the expansion of family welfare centers and the introduction of Community Based Family Workers in 2021–24.
In the meantime, the CM voiced his displeasure at the delay in the Lahore development plan.
The provincial metropolitan’s road, street, and bazaar cleanliness was criticized by the CM in a meeting, and he set a three-day deadline for improvement.
In addition, she directed the launch of an anti-encroachment campaign in 18 Lahore markets.
