Govt gears up to make South Punjab secretariat functional

LAHORE: Appointments of secretaries, cabinet meetings, sittings of provincial ministers weekly and other measures were put before Prime Minister Imran Khan as steps are planned to make South Punjab secretariat functional.
The prime minister chaired a meeting on South Punjab attended by MNAs and MPAs from the area, where he was briefed in detail on measures needed to make it functional.
It was informed that efforts are underway to make it fully functional and a committee is being formed to address the issues faced by the region and the secretariat.
It was briefed that appointments would be made against the existing vacancies at the South Punjab secretariat while cabinet meetings would also be held to make to ensure that it is made functional on an immediate basis.
The provincial ministers would also be directed to ensure a weekly sitting at the secretariat. Prime Minister Imran directed to provide all needed facilities to the secretariat.
Meanwhile, it was decided to take action against the officials who changed the status of the South Punjab secretariat. A committee was formed to identify the officials involved in the entire episode.
Sources claimed that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed during the meeting for action against the officials who were involved in issuing a notification to change the status of the South Punjab Secretariat.
Meanwhile, in a bid to control the soaring inflation, the Punjab government has decided to regulate the prices of chicken and ghee in the same manner as the sugar prices are set by the provincial authorities.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran, who is visiting Lahore to get briefings on the performance of the Punjab authorities in the wake of the Covid-19 situation and inflation.
Sources privy to the decision said that the government has decided to regulate the prices of ghee and chicken, in the same manner, it sets sugar prices. The decision was made after the prices of both commodities have witnessed a massive hike.