The Punjab government is paying full attention to economic development but the desired results cannot be achieved without peace in the society, said Punjab Minister for Home Colonel (r) Shuja Khanzada while talking to a delegation led by National Management College Dean Naeem Aslam comprising participants of the course in Darbar Hall at the Civil Secretariat.
Punjab Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, additional chief secretary, additional chief secretary energy, secretary schools education, special secretary home, director health programme besides other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
The minister said that under National Action Plan, army, rangers and law enforcement agencies are conducting operations against terrorists and their facilitators in the light of authentic information of ISI and MI.
He said that geo-tagging of 13,794 seminaries have been completed under the plan and all information about them is available on dashboard. He said that the writ of the government has been established by making amendment in the laws regarding terrorism, misuse of loudspeakers in mosques and objectionable posters, wall-chalking and other material. He said that establishment of counter-terrorism force due to the personal interest of the chief minister is a big achievement and it is yielding encouraging results.
“There is information about presence of terrorist elements and their facilitators in some religious seminaries, NGOs and institutions and action will be taken against them,” he said.
He further said that biometric machines are being installed in all big cities of the province which will show record of the entire family through a thumb print.
“No school, bazaar or worship places were safe before the plan but now there is a lot of improvement in law and order,” he said.
SCHOOL EDUCATION IMPROVED:
The secretary schools education apprised the delegation of the improvement in education system in the province.
He said that attendance rate of children in schools has increased from 79 percent to 93 percent, of teachers from 80 percent to 93 percent while that of supervisory staff from 57 percent to 96 percent.
“40,000 vacancies of teachers have been filled under Parho Punjab, Barho Punjab of the chief minister,” he said.
LOAD SHEDDING TO END SOON:
The additional chief secretary energy said that the government is utilising all available resources for power generation and load shedding will be substantially decreased by 2018.
Punjab Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal while welcoming the participants of the course said that it is a big achievement to be a part of this course.
“Such courses improve supervisory abilities of the participants as well as build their capacities to deal with other issues,” he said.
He also informed about Daanish Schools, missing facilities of the schools and the Punjab Endowment Fund.
National Management College Dean Naeem Aslam thanked the home minister, chief secretary and other secretaries and said that Punjab is making rapid progress in energy, security, health and educational projects which is commendable. Later, head of the delegation and the home minister exchanged shields.
