Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Yellow Cab Scheme is a revolutionary step of the Punjab government which will not only help eliminate poverty but promote local industry and provide better transport facilities.
He said that like Aashiyana Housing Scheme, the balloting of Yellow Cab Scheme will be held in a transparent manner and the Aashiyana Housing Scheme will be adopted as a ‘model’ for scrutinizing the particulars of applicants. He said that the balloting of the Yellow Cab Scheme will be held at all divisional headquarters and in the first phase, balloting will be held on August 29 in DG Khan, Multan and Rawalpindi divisions while in the second phase in other three divisions on September 7 whereas in remaining three divisions on September 10. Distribution of vehicles will be started from October 10.
He was presiding over a meeting regarding the Yellow Cab Scheme on Monday. Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Excise & Taxation, Planning & Development and Finance, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, President Bank of Punjab and representatives of Suzuki Motors also attended the meeting.
He said that the projects to provide laptops to 100,000 male and female students, loans on soft terms and the distribution of 20,000 Yellow Cabs for jobs are also included to enable Punjab’s educated youth to stand on their own feet.
Technical education: Elsewhere, addressing a meeting to review the technical education program run by the Punjab Vocational Council, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said the future of Pakistan was linked with technical education. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Secretary Finance, Secretary Zakat & Ushr, Managing Director Punjab Vocational Training Council and other officers concerned. Punjab Vocational Training Council Chairman Faisal Ijaz Khan gave a detailed briefing on the strategy and implementation of programmes for the promotion of technical education.
Faisal Ijaz informed the meeting that eight new vocational training institutes had been set up and technical educational institutions had been completed in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan with the cooperation of philanthropists. He said that Punjab Vocational Training Council is imparting training to youth in Livestock, Dairy Development, Tunnel Farming, Managers, Heavy Vehicle Operators, Family Nursing Assistant, CNC Operators, Midwifery and Clinical Assistant.
The CM directed that vacant government buildings in tehsils without technical educational institutions be utilised immediately for the purpose and the Punjab Vocational Training Council should launch a technical training programme for the populations. He directed Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of all technical institutions including TEVTA, Punjab Vocational Training Council, Punjab Small Industries Corporation and Higher Schools Education in which recommendations with regard to evolving a coordinated system should be formulated for promotion of technical education and steps should be taken for promotion of public private partnership. He also approved increasing the monthly scholarship of deserving students under training from Rs 2500 to Rs 3000.