LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with Provincial Election Commissioner Ijaz Anwar Chohan to discuss the peaceful conduct of upcoming general elections and review the preparations here on Monday.
Mohsin Naqvi, in his remarks, assured full support from the Punjab government for the seamless execution of the election process. He emphasised the implementation of the Election Commission's code of conduct, and measures will be taken to ensure its proper compliance.
The chief minister further stated that law enforcement, including the police and other security agencies, would play a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law during the electoral process. Provincial election commissioner acknowledged the valuable cooperation of the Punjab government in this regard. Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi accomplished the revival of a stalled project spanning seven years, inaugurating the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) Complex on Monday. During the visit to various departments and the auditorium of PAFDA, Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the Secretary Communication and Works and the team for their swift and quality completion of the project.
The Chief Minister received a briefing on PAFDA, revealing that the project initiated in 2017 was successfully completed within a few months. The PAFDA laboratory, a first of its kind in Pakistan, will conduct tests on specific drugs for humans and animals, quality control of agricultural inputs, pesticides, fertilizers, cardiac stents, orthopedic implants, cosmetic products, canned food, and micro-level chemical content.
Addressing the media after the inauguration, Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the project's history, originally estimated at Rs6.7 billion, with a cost escalation to Rs15 billion due to delays. He announced HR recruitment with Election Commission permission and emphasized the importance of following former DG Ashraf Tahir's standards for PAFDA. Regarding election matters, Mohsin Naqvi stressed impartiality, stating that no government employee has been instructed to attend any party's gathering. He affirmed swift action against election rule violations and discussed the coordination between the Election Commission, Home Department, and Police for transparent elections. The Chief Minister mentioned the signing of an essential MoU in Canada to benefit the youth. He assured that all projects would be operational by February 7.
Present at the occasion were Provincial Minister Primary and Secondary Health Dr. Jamal Nasir, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Interior, Communication and Works, Information, Livestock, Food, Agriculture, CCPO, Commissioner Lahore, DG PAFDA, and relevant officials.
Meanwhile, Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Sports and Youth Affairs Wahab Riaz has announced to distribute hefty cash prizes of Rs 3 crore, 90 lakh among the athletes who achieved top positions in different national and international sports competitions in recent past. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi will distribute the huge cash prizes at a grand ceremony scheduled to be held on February 2, 2024.
Wahab Riaz made this big announcement while presiding over an important meeting at National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Addressing the meeting, Wahab Riaz said that the top performing athletes in various national and international sports competitions are our true heroes and they deserved to be honoured fully. “Punjab CM will grace the cash prize distribution ceremony to encourage the young talented athletes of multiple games,” he added.
Wahab informed that the leading position holders of 34th Quetta National Games, Pink Games, Asian Athletics Championship 2023, Rising Punjab Games, Ramzan Sports Series, Junior Asia Cup Hockey Oman, World Snooker and Chess Championship will be awarded cash prizes at the mega ceremony. “Para-athlete Haider Ali, who won a gold medal in the Paralympic Games, will also be awarded a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh”.
He further said that 150 motorcycles will also be given to Tehsil Sports Officers of Punjab who showed extraordinary performance in Punjab’s unique sports club registration campaign. “Sports clubs have been registered for the first time in the history of Punjab,” he added.
Wahab said that prizes of Rs 50,000 per person will be given to the TSOs who showed best performance in registration of sports clubs. He said that these mega cash prizes will definitely play a major role in inspiring and motivating the young talented male and female athletes of the province.