Women role vital for development

LAHORE   -  United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Julian Harneis called on Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz at his office on Monday and appreciated the steps being taken for social sector development.  Talking on this occasion, Julian Harneis appreciated the Punjab government’s vision of providing social services as durable steps that would empower women while ensuring gender equality in society. Both will jointly counter climate changes which are a collective challenge for the whole world, he added.

Hamza Shehbaz appreciated UN partnership for human resource development and welcomed UN bodies’ cooperation for social development in the country. However, he maintained that a balanced plan of action would have to be formulated to ensure durable human development which is the need of the hour. Similarly, out of box solutions would have to be adapted to deal with water shortage and other issues; he stated and pointed out that the drought like situation in Cholistan and other areas could endanger humans and wildlife.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government’s steps to overcome water shortage in Cholistan have started yielding positive results while climate challenges have become a global threat, he added. The CM said that Daanish schools were the best source of providing quality education to children of backward areas.  “Similarly, the PML-N-led government had adopted numerous praiseworthy steps to protect women and helped them to join the development process in its previous tenure.  Use of quality seeds was being encouraged for better productivity in south Punjab and the targets of clean energy would be achieved through collaboration”, he told the UN representative.

He also informed Mr Julian about the government’s policy on urban foresting, water reserves and zero plastic waste targets. Hamza said tat Provincial Water Act was being introduced to improve the recharge of groundwater in cities. He said joint steps would also be taken to protect and improve cultural heritage.

Sardar Awais Leghari, Uzma Kardar, Tahayya Noon, Imran Goraya, Ali Raza, CS and administrative secretaries were also present.

CM directs to further improve the supply of flour

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Hamza Shehbaz Sharif has ordered to further improve the supply of subsidized flour across Punjab.

While presiding over a meeting at his office on Monday, the CM directed strict monitoring of wheat grinding and flour supply in the market should be closely monitored.

Every penny of 200 billion worth of subsidy should reach the common man, he stressed. Exit routes of Punjab should be closely monitored to curb the smuggling of wheat and flour and police and line departments should take effective measures to curb smuggling, he stressed. Hamza Shehbaz said that the government is aware of the difficulties and the government would soon give more relief to the people by reducing the prices of ghee and sugar.  The meeting reviewed the mechanism of supply and monitoring of subsidized flour and reviewed proposals to reduce the prices of essential commodities, especially ghee and sugar. Sardar Owais Leghari, Ch Muhammad Iqbal, Bilal Yaseen, Nadeem Kamran, Zeeshan Rafiq, Ramzan Siddique Bhatti, Hafiz Mian Muhammad Noman, chief secretary, IG police, secretaries of relevant departments and senior officials attended the meeting.

CM directs to curb hoarding and price-hike of fertilizers

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has ordered an immediate curb on stockpiling and sale of fertilizers across the province. He directed the administration to ensure the supply of fertilizers to the farmers at controlled rates and legal action be initiated against those involved in selling fertilizers at exorbitant rates.

The farmers are my brothers and I would not allow their exploitation, he stressed.

The stockpiling and price-hike is a matter of concern and line departments should play their role in this regard, he stated.