LAHORE: PM Imran Khan had vowed to carve out a separate south Punjab province and this was also part of the PTI manifesto. The cabinet meeting has approved amendments in Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2011 to move further in this regard.
While addressing a presser at CMO on Tuesday, the CM said powers of ACS (South Punjab), secretaries and departments have been clarified while the south Punjab secretariat will comprise of Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Khanewal, Layyah, Lodhran, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Vehari and the number of government departments will be 17.
The south Punjab ACS and secretaries will be administratively fully empowered while ACS (South Punjab) is given the power to transfer grade 17 officers. He is also given the authority to approve the budget and provide funds to the commissioners, DCs and ACs’ offices. The ACS (South Punjab) is given the authority to write ACRs of south Punjab secretaries, which are given all powers available to Punjab secretaries, and the heads of autonomous bodies, boards, authorities and companies will be answerable to secretaries, he said. He said a 33 per cent budget, amounting to 190 billion, is reserved for south Punjab. Approval of the service tribunal of south Punjab is also given, he added.
To a question, the CM said the Punjab government has traced heinous crime cases. I issued directions to police while taking notice of such cases and some police officials are also removed from their posts, he stated. Every step is taken to ensure rule of law, he said. To a question, he said the helicopter is used for government duties as he visits different areas to solve public problems on the spot and development is a prime focus of the government as utilization of budget will be ensured. The approval of rules of business for the south Punjab secretariat is a historic step to resolve public problems at the grassroots and they will not have to visit Lahore, he stressed. PM Imran Khan will soon lay a foundation stone of the south Punjab secretariat in Bahawalpur, he said.
Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht said midnight oil is burnt to formulate rules of business as it is a historic step of CM Usman Buzdar-led government. This will remove deprivations and public problems will be resolved at their doorsteps, he added. Provincial ministers Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan, Dr Akhtar Malik, Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak, parliamentary secretary Abdul Hayee Dastee and ACS (South Punjab) were also present.