MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet, which met here on Thursday with the Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in the chair, accorded approval for amendment in the Registration Act, 1908, to regulate and supervise the deed writing profession.

The meeting also gave approval to amendments in the Punjab Fisheries Ordinance, 1961 and the Fisheries Act, 1999 along-with provision of land in the jurisdiction of Punjab province for 640-megawatts ‘Azad Pattan Hydro Project.’ Approval was also accorded for long-term investment under ‘the Punjab General Provident Investment Fund Act, 2009.’ It was decided that agri-marketing reforms should be initiated along-with approval of the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority Act, 2018.

The Punjab Cabinet also approved the Punjab Policy for the protection of Human Rights. The draft of amendment bill for introducing proposed amendments in 1992’s act of forced-labour was given approval along-with endorsement of minutes of 29th cabinet meeting. The decisions of 43rd to 54th meetings of cabinet committee for finance & development were endorsed as well. The performance reports of Daanish Schools and Centers of Excellence Authority for 2010-14 were fully appreciated by the participants.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that parentless and needy children have been returned their fundamental right of education by the Punjab government through Daanish Schools. “Had the provincial government not established these schools, these bright sons and daughters would have been lost to the dust of time! Today, thousands of such children are studying from these knowledge houses,” he said.

He said that Daanish Schools’ alumni have become an important asset for their families. The opponents of Daanish Schools have now realized their effectiveness and utility, he added.

The Chief Minister appreciated the hard work of Chief Secretary, high officials of line departments concerned as well as officials of Daanish Schools Authority for rendering yeoman service for the Daanish Schools. A documentary about 1263-megawatts gas power project was also shown in the meeting. This project is being completed with the indigenous resources of the Punjab government.

Shahbaz said that full electricity is being generated from Bhikki Gas Power Project while gas turbines and generators have reached Pakistan for their installation in the new project of Hawley Bahadur Shah. “We have dealt with the energy crisis with commitment and hard work and exemplary work has been done by saving billions of rupees in the energy projects,” he said.