The Punjab government has decided to dispatch five thousand ton wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a daily basis.
This decision was made in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office on Monday. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that helping the people of KP was our responsibility, adding that the Punjab government would provide wheat from its stock as a goodwill gesture to help overcome the flour shortage. He also directed to continue steps for stabilizing the price of flour adding that unjustified increase in the price of Chakki flour will not be tolerated and assured to take necessary steps in this regard.
The meeting was told that the food department inspected 1119 flour mills and took action against 542 mills by suspending their wheat quota. Similarly, 88 flour mills’ licenses have been suspended and fine worth 14 crore rupees has been imposed. Along with it, sale of flour bags is continuous on fixed rates at sale points of different districts. Provincial administration and food department officials have also been activated to stabilize the price of flour.
The chief minister reiterated that ample wheat stocks are available and there is no flour shortage, adding that he personally monitored flour availability during visits to various districts. He directed to further strict the monitoring of wheat grinding in flour mills. Law is in action against mills involved in the sale of wheat quota in open market and action is in progress against food department officers involved in irregularities and negligence of duties, he added. Secretary food told that around 25 thousand ton wheat is being provided to flour mills.
Senior PTI leader Jehangir Khan Tareen, provincial ministers Sami Ullah Chaudhary, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema MPA, chief secretary and others attended the meeting.
PIC tragedy: Meanwhile, Usman Buzdar presided over a high-level meeting at CM Office. Inquiry report was submitted to him regarding the incident of rumpus and destruction caused by the lawyers at Punjab Institute of Cardiology and also about the role of police. Additional IG Azhar Hameed Khokhar submitted the inquiry report.
Usman Buzdar directed to submit recommendations of the inquiry report in the cabinet committee for law & order meeting. Those found responsible for causing PIC tragic incident will be taken to their logical end and stern action will be taken against those found responsible for negligence according to law. Taking law into hands is highly lamentable and condemnable, he added. Comprehensive policy should be formulated in order preempt tragic incidents like PIC, he directed. Police and security institutions should remain vigilant and alert in order to safeguard life and property of the people. Protecting life and property is first and foremost priority of PTI government, he emphasized. Police and other institutions should perform their duties with dedication and government will provide them all out support, he concluded. Provincial Ministers Raja Basharat, Muhammad Hashim Dogar, Rai Muhammad Taimoor Khan Bhatti, Ansar Majeed Khan Niazi, Chief Secretary Punjab, Advocate General Punjab, IG Police, ACS (Home), Commissioner Lahore Division and high officials of civil and military also participated in the meeting.
Biennale 2020: Usman Buzdar also presided over a meeting in which arrangements for holding second Lahore Biennale 2020 were reviewed. Commissioner Lahore Division gave a briefing regarding arrangements being made for holding second Biennale. The meeting was apprised that the inaugural ceremony of Lahore Biennale will be held on 26th January at Hazoori Bagh Lahore. President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi will inaugurate Lahore Biennale while Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar will be the chief guest on the eve of the concluding ceremony of Lahore Biennale. Concluding ceremony of Lahore Biennale will be held on 29th February at Shalamar Garden.
Lahore Biennale will be the biggest cultural event in the history of Pakistan and 88 international artists from 40 countries will participate in this mega programme. Usman Buzdar said that Lahore is the centre of culture and tourism of Pakistan and it is the priority of PTI government to promote culture and tourism for achieving economic prosperity. Holding of Lahore Biennale in the heart of Punjab will project soft image of Pakistan, he added. Excellent arrangements should be made for holding this ceremony, he directed.
Outstanding hospitality will be extended to international guests coming to Lahore for this mega event. Punjab government will extend all possible cooperation for holding this mega event. Usman Buzdar directed district administration and police to make the best arrangements for holding this event. He also directed to make a special focus on traffic management and effective traffic plan should be formulated keeping in view holding this mega event and arrival of Bangladesh cricket team. He further directed that people should be informed about alternate traffic routes so that they may not face any trouble.
Organizers of Lahore Biennale thanked Usman Buzdar for giving his assurance of extending cooperation and further paid him compliments that he also extended full cooperation to make this event successful in the past also. Member Provincial Assembly Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Chief Secretary, IG Police, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DG Lahore Walled City Authority, Secretaries of finance, information and archives departments, higher education, schools education, youth affairs, sports, archaeology and tourism, auqaf, Commissioner Lahore Division, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, DG LDA, DG PHA, DG Protocol, Chairman PRA, MD TDCP and others attended the meeting. Office-holders of International organization Biennale also participated in the meeting.
Separately, Sardar Usman Buzdar met with Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon at CM Office in which matters of mutual interest, harmony and steps taken for promoting brotherhood came under discussion.
Usman Buzdar while talking on this occasion said that Pakistan consists of four federating units, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and is rich with natural resources. If all federating units progress jointly then Pakistan will also attain progress and prosperity, he added. We all have to move forward in order to take our dear homeland ahead. Due to collaborative efforts, Pakistan will achieve its destination and goal, he vowed. PTI government is pursuing on its policy to promote inter-provincial homogeneity.
All living in Gilgit-Baltistan are our brethren and their progress and prosperity is dear to us. Punjab government will play its constructive role to ensure development, progress of Gilgit-Baltistan and will also provide assistance to uplift its different sectors. The students of Gilgit-Baltistan are getting education in different educational institutions of Punjab, concluded Usman Buzdar.
Separately, Buzdar expressed his deep sense of grief and sorrow over the death of two children due to collapse of a swing in the area of Muzaffargarh Saitpur School. Usman Buzdar sought report from Commissioner DG Khan and Secretary Schools Education. He directed to probe the incident and those found responsible for this negligence should be ascertained and stern action should be taken against them. He also directed that best treatment facilities should be provided to the injured children. Usman Buzdar expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolence with the heirs of deceased children.
