Six-member Punjab interim cabinet takes oath

.LAHORE: The Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana took oath from six caretaker ministers at Governor's House here on Monday.

The caretaker Chief Minister Hasan Askari Rizvi congratulated the ministers including Zafar Mehmood, Dr Jawad Sajid Khan, Shaukat Javed, Anjum Nisar, Zia Haider Rizvi and Ahmed Waqas Riaz.

A meeting of the caretaker cabinet was held at the Chief Minister's office with Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Hasan Askari Rizvi in the chair.

The meeting expressed its strong commitment to ensure holding of free, fair and peaceful elections in the province. Askari welcomed the provincial ministers and congratulated them over their new responsibilities.

Addressing the meeting, he said the caretaker set up is meant for a limited period of time and its scope of work is also limited, adding the fundamental responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold transparent and impartial elections.

We have to fulfil the responsibility of holding transparent elections in a specific period of time, he said. He said the facilities will be provided to ensure holding of free and fair elections under the instructions of the Election Commission. He said the administration has to fulfil its duties in a neutral way. Our time period is limited and we are desirous to carry out some public welfare initiatives which could provide relief to the masses and the line departments will have to take the lead in this regard, he said.

The chief minister said they are willing to set such examples which could be worth following for the coming caretaker governments. He said the ministers, administration as well as the police should be totally impartial and apolitical. The ministers are part of my team and we have to work collectively, he added.

He said the caretaker ministers are experts in their fields and are also highly capable. They don't have any political agenda. He said the responsibility of public welfare will be fulfilled in accordance with the limitations of a specific period of time and powers.

The chief secretary gave a briefing about different matters pertaining to the government affairs, working of the public sector departments and their infrastructure. The meeting was also apprised about the rules of business. Caretaker ministers, chief secretary, IG and others attended the meeting.

The Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed gave a briefing about the functions of 43 departments of Punjab government and authority and scope of work of the caretaker government.

The chief minister individually introduced every member of the caretaker cabinet and informed them about their responsibilities. While introducing caretaker health Minister Dr Jawad Sajid, Rizvi said that he looks after the matters pertaining to human hearts and he is quite serious in these matters. He said it is our desire he should further improve the standard of health facilities in accordance with the mandate so relief could be provided to people and they pray for us.

The Caretaker Minister Zia Haider Rizvi proposed that the policy of receiving government dues with mutual willingness should be adopted by decreasing the volume of government expenditures. Ahmed Waqas Riaz expressed the determination that exemplary work would be done under Askari so the future caretaker governments could quote our examples. Zafar Mahmood said all-out support would be provided and matters would be settled through though open discussions in the cabinet. Minister Anjum Nisar stressed the need for expediting efforts for the promotion of industrial activities in the province. The Caretaker Provincial Minister Shaukat Javed assured his full cooperation. While talking to the cabinet meeting, the chief minister said: "We will have to prove neutrality with our actions." The IG Police Arif Nawaz briefed about measures to be taken by the Punjab government for maintaining law and order on Eid.