PHOTO: BULLETIN
A meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, on Wednesday approved the Punjab Protection of Women Victims Against Violence Bill-2015. Amendments to the Punjab Maternity Benefits Ordinance 1958, Stamp Act 1899 and the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Act were also approved.
The meeting decided to launch e-stamp papers throughout the province under a phased programme. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing wheat procurement campaign, the law and order situation and security for the visiting Zimbabwean cricket team.
Addressing the cabinet, the chief minister said the e-stamp paper project would be launched from July 2015. “Billions of rupees will be collected in revenue through the reform. It will also help curb irregularities and fraud in the stamp papers business. The electronic stamp papers will eliminate the illegal occupation of land through bogus stamp papers,” he said.
The chief minister directed the ministers to base the e-stamp paper project on the existing registration of land system. He said that final recommendations in this regard should be presented soon.
“The wheat procurement campaign is continuing successfully. So far, 2.95 million metric tonnes of wheat has been purchased. The government has electronically registered 242,000 farmers,” he said. The chief minister said that the data should be used to improve the wheat procurement process in the coming years. The chief minister praised the minister for food, the chief secretary and the food secretary for their role in the procurement process.
“The visit of Zimbabwean cricket team is an important step towards revival of international cricket in Pakistan. The Punjab government has made foolproof security arrangements for the visit,” he said. He directed the cabinet committee on law and order to review the security measures on a daily basis.
The Punjab Vigilance Committee Bill 2015 was presented in the meeting.
The chief minister said that terrorism was a major challenge the country faced. “All segments of society will have to play their role in dealing with the menace. The vigilance committees are of vital importance for ensuring community participation in the fight against terrorism,” he said. The chief minister directed that recommendations about the bill be finalised after consulting the ministers and departments concerned.
He directed the ministers to ensure the implementation of the Marriage Functions Act. The chief minister said that the proposal to review the Marriage Functions Act 1998 to allow serving of soup in winter and cold drinks in summer be considered.
“Such measures are important for minimising the disparity between the rich and the poor,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2015.
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