CM terms blast bid to ruin peace

LAHORE:Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar strongly condemned the Johar Town blast, sought a report from the IG Police and directed the investigation of the incident. The criminals involved in the blast should be immediately arrested, he ordered.

The chief minister expressed deep grief over the loss of precious human lives and extended sympathies to the bereaved families. He said the injured be provided with the best treatment facilities and also directed to impose emergency in Jinnah Hospital and other hospitals for making the best arrangements for the injured.

The chief minister said that the Punjab government fully shared the grief of the victims, adding that it was an attempt to sabotage law and order in the province. The perpetrators of the crime could not escape from the law and a handful of terrorists could not weaken the strong commitment of the nation, he added. The anti-state elements were trying to destabilise peace through nefarious activities, he said and announced that heirs of the victims would be provided financial assistance while damages to properties would also be compensated.

— Orders finalising corporate agriculture farming policy

The chief minister on Wednesday said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project was a game-changer enterprise to augur well for the development and prosperity of the country. He said the multi-billion dollars CPEC project would generate hundreds of thousands of new job opportunities through a boost in economic activities.

Chairing a meeting at his office, the chief minister directed to finalise the corporate agriculture farming policy within the next few days to allot lands to Chinese investors for corporate agriculture farming. CPEC Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Adviser Dr Salman Shah, SMBR, Chairman P&D, secretaries of industries and agriculture departments, CEO PBIT, Chairman Faisalabad

Industrial Estates Development and Management Company Mian Kashif Ashfaq, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others attended the meeting.

The CM vowed ingenious work for agriculture development as it would strengthen the provincial economy. The research would particularly focus on high yield seeds, he said and maintained that corporate agriculture farming was the need of the hour to maintain national food security. Meanwhile, different facilities have also been provided to Chinese investors in special economic zone Faisalabad and the government would welcome Chinese investment in corporate agriculture farming, he added.