CM approves 25pc allowance for grade-1 to 19 employees

LAHORE:The 44th provincial cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office here on Thursday approved a 25 per cent special allowance for over 7 lakh and 21 thousand provincial employees of grade-1 to 19 from June 1, 2021.

The cabinet also approved Rs7.10 billion for free medical facilities to the residents of DG Khan and Sahiwal divisions under the first phase of the universal health insurance programme. The whole population of the province will be given free health coverage, up to Rs7.20 lakh, by December this year, the CM said and directed the health department to expedite the procurement of corona vaccine.

The cabinet approved an amendment to the Punjab Board of Revenue Act, 1957 to early decide revenue cases by withdrawing the right of second review appeal in revenue cases. It approved in principle to provide financial assistance to the rain-hit Hafizabad, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan and other districts for compensation of death and financial losses and the CM directed expeditious steps in this regard. The meeting approved amendments to the 122-year-old stamp act of 1899 to authorise BoR to audit private housing societies. Record of flats and multi-storey buildings will be compiled to collect revenue. The CM directed for devising a master plan for all the cities and a committee was constituted for this purpose. In-principle approval was given to exempt affordable housing projects in peri-urban areas from PRA’s sales tax. Extension in the contract of PFSA’s DG Muhammad Ashraf Tahir was approved and it was also decided to take steps to encourage new talent.

Formal approval of Imran Amin as CEO of Ravi Urban Development Authority on merit along with the nomination of new members was given. Similarly, an amendment to Punjab Arms Rules, 2017 was given to authorise deputy commissioners the transfer and modification of arms licences. Legal amendments for Inspection and Certification of Private Vehicles (Motorcar) were approved as well. Under Punjab Green Development Programme, private vehicles older than five years will have to get a road fitness certificate while a fine will be imposed on three-wheeler motorcycle rickshaws for traffic laws violations.

The meeting approved amendments to Punjab Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969 and Punjab Motor Vehicles Transaction Licence Rules, 2015, biometric verification and urgent fee processing. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Law and Cooperatives Raja Basharat chaired the 62nd meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Business at the Civil Secretariat here Thursday, which was also attended by Provincial Sports Minister Taimur Bhatti and relevant secretaries.

The Cabinet Committee approved several legal proposals which included the adjustment and regularisation of Patwaris and staff of Settlement Department into Revenue Department, acceptance of resignation of one member in the board of Ravi Urban Development Authority and new appointment in his place, appointment of unofficial members in the board of Lahore Central District Business Development Authority. commencement of Treatment Programme for Disease of Foot & Mouth among cattle in selected districts under Livestock Department, promulgation of Rules 2021 of Punjab Water Resources Commission, signing of Service Agreement between Excise and Taxation Department and Urban Unit for the financial year 2020-2021, the Private Member's bill for amendment to the Power Generation and Distribution Act 1997 and the proposal to include the Punjab Assembly in the Punjab Government Business Rules 2011 as a special institute. The proposal to name the road from Qila Satarshah to Muridke after former MLA Syed Manzoor Bukhari was postponed for further consideration.