Punjab Cabinet approves amendments to OGRA Ordinance

LAHORE:Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over the 23rd provincial cabinet meeting at his office here Tuesday.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister emphasised that exploitation of sugarcane farmers would not be tolerated and assured of helping the full payment of their crops. He directed that dysfunctional sugar mills must be restarted by January 10 and agriculture as well as food departments should keep a vigilant eye on the situation. He directed the officials concerned to constitute a committee for monitoring the situation in future and added that cabinet legislative committee should early perform necessary legislation in this regard.

The ministers should monitor the crushing season and administrative officers ensure the protection of sugarcane farmers’ rights in their districts, he added. The meeting decided to constitute women’s hostel authority along with the approval of appointment of Atif Bajwa as president of Bank of Punjab.

The meeting decided to give ex-post facto approval to joint investigation teams constituted in the province and authorised cabinet sub-committee on law & order for granting necessary ex-post facto approval. This sub-committee would give ex-post facto approval of JITs after review and authority will rest with the cabinet sub-committee on law & order to constitute JITs in future. The meeting decided to establish e-rogzar centres in colleges and to abolish superstructure tax for sale deeds in special economic zones and industrial estates. Approval of constitution of boards of management for children’s hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan was granted while the agenda item of up-gradation of different posts in the light of recommendations of a committee headed by ACS was deferred.

The meeting approved signing of MoU for plantation in Karole Forest Shahdara and measurement as well as estimation of trees falling in the way of dualisation of Motorway link Kohat via Jand, Pindi Ghaib to Khushhalgarh (package-I) project. The meeting approved to increase the licence fee for keeping grey and black Francolins along with the approval of amendments to Punjab Urial Conservation, Protection and Trophy Hunting (Committees) Rules, 2016 and inclusion of grizzly Bear in Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation & Management) Amendment Act, 2007.

Approval of amendments to section 2 (1) (a) (h) (j) of Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act, 2016 was granted and the meeting also decided to empower the deputy commissioners for creating ease of doing businesses by the environment department at the district level. The Punjab Cabinet decided to amend the Punjab Local Government (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 and approved amendments to OGRA Ordinance, 2002 and the draft summary about the formulation of Pakistan Petroleum Exploration and Production Regulatory Authority. Minutes of 21st and 22nd meeting of Punjab Cabinet were endorsed along with the approval of decisions made in the 20th meeting of cabinet standing committee for finance and development.

Secretary food gave a briefing about sugarcane crushing season and said that so far 8.4 million metric tons sugarcane had been crushed. A sum of Rs22 billion has been paid to farmers this year while 99 percent payment was made to sugarcane growers last year. Ministers, advisers, special assistants, chief secretary and secretaries attended the meeting.