Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over Punjab cabinet meeting on Friday which decided to provide complete assistance to the earthquake victims of Balochistan. Various draft laws were also approved in the meeting which includes Cabinet Committee’s recommendations with regard to Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 and rehabilitation package for flood victims of Punjab.
The cabinet also gave approval in principle to the social programme for poorest families of the province and decided to give a final shape to it at the earliest. The meeting also decided to set up an authority for reviewing the matters of Lady Health Workers which will comprise three members from civil society, two provincial assembly members and two experts. One lady each from civil society and provincial assembly members will be member of the Authority. Cabinet meeting also gave approval to the Amendment Bill of Punjab Employee Social Security Ordinance. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said a coordinated plan was being evolved for the help of victims whereas the process of providing essential items through trucks and airplanes has immediately been started. He said that Punjab government has decided to give a sum of Rs 100 million from the Prime Minister’s Fund for rehabilitation of earthquake victims of Balochistan whereas cabinet members and PML-N members provincial assembly will also donate one month’s salary for the earthquake affectees.
CM VISITS EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif visited earthquake affected areas of Balochistan on Friday and assured complete cooperation on behalf of Punjab government and people to the affected families and injured persons. He went from Lahore to Karachi by plane and from Karachi to Awaran by helicopter. He travelled most of the journey by lying due to backache. Federal Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan during a press conference at Awaran especially mentioned the illness of Punjab CM and said that travelling in this condition to reach the Balochi brethren is laudable. The chief minister has also postponed his scheduled visit to UK to stay back in the country to monitor relief operations in quake hit areas.
