LAHORE – The Punjab cabinet, during its meeting on Monday, approved the draft bill of the Walled City of Lahore Act 2011. The meeting, chaired by Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, also approved the draft bills of the Punjab Food Safety & Standard Authority Act 2011 and the Online Legislation Project for promoting public awareness about the laws of provincial departments. The meeting also decided to enhance the quota of widows, martyrs, orphans and the disabled in the Aashiyana Housing Scheme from five percent to 10 percent and to adopt a comprehensive system for complete verification of the applications for allotment of houses.
The CM said that it has been decided to set-up an autonomous food authority in Punjab for the first time in the history of the country for the provision of unadulterated and hygienic essential items to the people. He said that although various departments were functioning for the supply of pure food items to the citizens but the desired results were not being achieved due to lack of coordination.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab Food Authority would ensure availability of quality food to the masses besides imposition of fine on elements involved in adulteration and the heinous trade of substandard items, will also be sent behind the bars. The CM, while granting approval to the establishment of the food authority, also gave instructions for the formation of a committee led by the Punjab law minister regarding selection of the members of the authority.
The committee will submit its recommendations within 48 hours which will be incorporated in the draft law. Shahbaz said that the conservation of cultural heritage is the need of the hour and protection of cultural heritage is the responsibility of the government. Granting approval to the Walled City of Lahore Act 2010, he said that after Lahore, legislation will be undertaken for the conservation of cultural heritage in all major cities of the province. He said that the approval of the act will help evolve a comprehensive programme for the conservation of cultural heritage in the province.
The CM said that the Online Access to the Substantive and Subordinate Legislation Project being initiated for the first time in the country’s history is a revolutionary step for promoting public awareness regarding the laws of government departments. Shahbaz said that the law and other administrative departments have made commendable efforts for this project and it is also encouraging that the Punjab government incurred no expenditure in this regard. He said that after the first phase of the project, the second phase will also be soon started and completed at the earliest.
The CM directed the Punjab chief secretary to extend all out cooperation to the departments concerned regarding the project and a vigorous media campaign should be launched while seminars and discussions should also be arranged for promoting awareness in the people regarding this important initiative of Punjab government.
