Plan to protect, finance special persons, says CM

LAHORE
CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting Tuesday which decided to launch a social protection programme for special persons.
According to a handout, addressing the meeting, the chief minister said monthly financial assistance would be given to special persons under social protection programme and they would be made useful citizens of society under a phased programme.
The chief minister issued instructions to evolve special programmes to make special persons skillful. He said a sum of Rs2 billion had been allocated in the current fiscal year for social protection programme. He said first social protection policy of Punjab was also being devised and negotiations should be held with private sector to introduce special courses of skills development for special persons.
Coal project: Shahbaz Sharif held a video conference on Tuesday from Lahore with the President of Chinese Company, Hauneng Shandong, Wang Wen Zong in Beijing, China regarding Sahiwal Coal Power Project.
Matters regarding Sahiwal Coal Power Project were discussed in detail. The Punjab government and Chinese company agreed to take joint measures for the speedy implementation of the project.
A video of construction activities on the site of the project were also shown in the conference. Talking to Wang Wen Zong, President of Chinese Company Hauneng Shandong, the chief minister said Sahiwal Coal Power Project would start providing electricity in 2017, for which the federal and provincial institutions concerned would extend all-out cooperation to the Chinese company for early completion of the project. He said that all possible measures were being taken for ensuring the supply of coal to the plant site from Karachi Port. He said that maximum facilities had been provided to the engineers and the staff of Chinese company working on the project. He said that super critical power plants were being set up in Sahiwal which were environment-friendly. He said the Punjab government was thankful to Hauneng Shandong and Ryui group for their invaluable cooperation. He thanked the President of Chinese Company for timely issuing orders for the purchase of generators, turbines and boilers.
President of Chinese Company Hauneng Shandong, Wang Wen Zong thanked Shahbaz Sharif for taking personal interest in the speedy disposal of the matters regarding the project and said that Shahbaz Sharif was extending extraordinary cooperation which was commendable.
The President of Chinese Company assured the chief minister that this project would start power production in 2017.
flood: Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here Tuesday which reviewed in detail protective arrangements in view of rains and possible floods.
Cabinet Committee on Flood presented a report regarding visit to different sites while DG PDMA gave a detailed briefing regarding protective arrangements. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that all the institutions concerned should remain fully alert in view of rains and possible flood situation. He said that Cabinet Committee on Flood should ensure implementation of decisions and measures and no negligence or laxity would be tolerated in this regard. He said the ministers and secretaries concerned should remain in the areas of possible floods instead of sitting in Lahore and DCOs of all districts should check the machinery and send him a report immediately. He directed that a watchful eye should be maintained on the situation on daily basis and all possible protective measures should be adopted. He said that there should be abundant stock of medicines and other necessary items and the flow of water in rivers should be continuously monitored.
Provincial Minister Col.(R) Shuja Khanzada said that arrangements had been finalised to cope with any untoward situation. He said that protective bunds and spurs were in satisfactory condition.
US envoy: American Consul General in Lahore Zachary Harkenrider called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Tuesday. Matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations and increase in cooperation in various sectors including energy were discussed in the meeting.
NOTICE: Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of murder of Rao Mashkoor, relative of Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Speaker Punjab Assembly in Chichawatni and sought a report from RPO Sahiwal. He ordered immediate arrest of the accused involved in the murder and said that action under the law should be taken against them. He also expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.
AGRIEVED
Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief over the death of Tahir Jamshed, active worker of PML-N Youth Wing and Mian Nisarul Haq, brother of former President Supreme Court Bar Association Mian Israrul Haq.