–Cabinet discusses 20-point agenda in maiden meeting on South Punjab province
BAHAWALPUR: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday said that decisions regarding the restoration of Bahawalpur province or if the region was to be made part of the proposed South Punjab province would be taken with the consensus of all stakeholders.
Addressing a press conference after presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet at Islamia University Bahawalpur (Old Campus), the chief minister said that no decision had yet been made regarding the establishment of Southern Punjab Secretariat.
“Janubi Punjab Suba Mahaz (JPSM) was made on a single point agenda regarding the demarcation of South Punjab province,” he said and added that the government would fulfil its promise of establishing a separate province for the people of southern Punjab.
In response to a question, the chief minister said that committees had been formed at the federal and provincial levels to furnish their recommendations for South Punjab province. “We have been waiting for their input.”
When asked whether Bahawalpur province would be restored through executive order and South Punjab province would be made through legislation, he reiterated that the matters would be decided with consensus.
“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to take all decisions in unanimity with the local leadership.”
He also said that people of Bahawalpur were lucky that Punjab cabinet had convened its first-ever meeting on South Punjab in Bahawalpur.
“So far, we have not decided the boundaries of the South Punjab province,” he said, adding that this too would be decided with the consensus of all stakeholders.
Earlier, a 20-point agenda was discussed during the meeting of the provincial cabinet in Bahawalpur.
Buzdar assured taking steps for the improvement of underdeveloped areas in the meeting, whereas all the participants deliberated on ways for the development and betterment of the province.
They also said that holding meetings in different regions was a “part of change” that the PTI government had promised.
