Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday has directed to set up and operationalize South Punjab Secretariat by mid next year.

He said this during a meeting with Planning Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiyar, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Punjab Finance Minister Makhdum Hashim Jawaan Bakht, and the chief secretary of Punjab held in Islamabad.

The planning minister gave a detailed briefing about social and economic facts pertaining to South Punjab.

Administrative matters regarding creation of new province of South Punjab also came under discussion during the meeting.