–Approves draft law to give concession on property tax, amendment draft of Punjab Motor Vehicles Rules 1969, RIMS Rules 2015, Punjab Sales Tax for Service Enforcement Rules 2014
–Amendments to Punjab Right to Information Act 2018, Police Order 2018 (ADR committees), Punjab Whistleblower Protection Act and Vigilance Commission Act 2018 approved
–Supplementary grant for release of arrears worth Rs4.60bn for 1,263-megawatt RLNG power project of Punjab Thermal Power Limited also sanctioned
LAHORE: Punjab on Friday “conditionally” lifted the ban imposed on recruitments [from grades one to 16] to government departments across the province.
This decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to review different matters of the province. Besides taking important decisions, the meeting also gave approval to a number of draft laws recommended by the standing committee on legislation.
The cabinet, after approving recruitments to different departments of the Punjab government through Punjab Public Service Commission, advised the departments concerned to submit their cases to the finance department regarding manpower they require.
The cabinet committee will present its recommendations on a case-to-case basis for other recruitments whereas health and education departments will be permitted for recruitment on a priority basis.
The ban on government jobs was slapped on September 1, during an earlier meeting of the cabinet.
The meeting also decided to auction at least 22 luxury vehicles of the provincial government and provide six bulletproof ones to the police for security. Ten vehicles will be placed in the Services and General Administration Department’s (S&GAD) pool.
Punjab Industrial Policy 2018 along with the procedure of allotment in labour colonies was also approved.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that implementation of the industrial policy would help increase investment and employment opportunities. He also directed solid measures to implement the policy, adding that every step of the government was aimed at public welfare.
A draft law to give concession on property tax in six computerised districts and amendment drafts of the Punjab Motor Vehicles Rules 1969 under Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965, Punjab Restaurant Invoice Monitoring System (RIMS) Rules 2015, as well as Punjab Sales Tax for Service Enforcement Rules 2014, were also approved.
Moreover, the cabinet approved draft acts for the establishment of Namal Institute as well as the bifurcation of the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) from Ameeruddin Medical College/Postgraduate Medical Institute Lahore.
A draft law regarding the policy of reallocation of sugar mills in Punjab was also given an approval along with a draft law for the establishment of Punjab Skills Development Authority.
Notification regarding the establishment of the Punjab University of Technology in Mandi Bahauddin was also validated by the meeting along with an approval of the draft of the Punjab Labour Policy 2018. Similarly, drafts of Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Act 2018, Punjab Domestic Act 2018 and Agricultural Policy 2018 were approved as well.
Meanwhile, amendments to the Punjab Right to Information Act 2018, Punjab Right to Public Service Act 2018, Police Order 2018 (ADR committees), Punjab Prevention of Conflict of Interest Act 2018 and Punjab Whistleblower Protection Act and Vigilance Commission Act 2018 were approved by the cabinet in the meeting that also validated the audit reports of the Auditor General regarding public sector companies.
Reports of Punjab government’s civil works departments, commercial audit and evaluation receipt of taxes, forestry department and others for 2016-17 and 2017-18 were also validated.
The meeting decided to constitute a cabinet committee for the construction of Dadhocha Dam on Ling River on BOT [Build–Operate–Transfer] basis, through which 35 million gallons of water will be provided to Rawalpindi.
Supplementary grant for the release of arrears worth Rs4.60 billion for 1,263-megawatt RLNG power project of Punjab Thermal Power Limited in Jhang was also approved.
“Punjab government is working like a team and targets of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 100-day agenda have been achieved.” CM Buzdar said on the occasion.
It is for the first time in the history of Punjab that a number of draft laws have been approved, he said, adding that they will jointly work for a durable development of the province.