Govt approves five cement plants worth Rs200b

Meeting approves aid package for rain- flood-hit areas

LAHORE:

Punjab government has approved setting up of five cement plants worth Rs200 billion.

Presiding over the 38th session of the provincial Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar approved the establishment of five cement plants besides early processing of an application for another 11 cement factories. He was told that five departments have already issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to these cement factories.

He directed the officials concerned to complete all formalities in a stipulated time. These new factories will not only help in meeting domestic demand but will also create new jobs in the province.

The provincial cabinet also approved an aid package for areas affected from rain, flood and sleet. Under this package, tens of million rupees will be distributed among affected families.

The meeting also decided to waive off the imposition of an additional fee on late registration and non-registration from April to October during coronavirus induced lockdowns. Applications can be submitted by January 15, 2021, and the CM asked the cabinet committee to hold a fresh review of matters relating to re-registration of motor vehicles under Section 30 of Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965.

The cabinet approved the online admission system and allowed the Higher Education Department to enter into an agreement with the Bank of Punjab for free online college admissions. The chief minister said local teachers will be recruited in hard areas' school to fill their shortage.

The meeting endorsed the decisions of cabinet committee for privatisation and allowed to transfer 697 lands of privatisation board to divisional commissioners for auction. Approval was granted to convert Rs10 billion temporarily loan of Punjab government for 1,263MW RLNG power plant in Trimmu area of district Jhang into sponsor support and further allowed energy department for an agreement between the banking consortium.

The cabinet also approved to declare wildlife parks of Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Loi Bher (Rawalpindi) and Bansra Galli (Murree) as zoological gardens and further decided to develop children and family park in Shahdra along with transfer of 70-Kanal land. Women Hostel Authority Bill, 2020 was also approved for monitoring and issuance of licenses to private hostels.

The meeting also endorsed recommendations of the Resource Mobilisation Committee for revision in the transport department fee.

Amendments in Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Rules, 1974 and Punjab Urial Conservation, Protection and Trophy Hunting (Committees) Rules, 2016 were approved along with the approval of payment mechanism of sugar imported by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan.

The chief minister directed to constitute a line departments' committee for ensuring ample stock of essential items in future. This committee will propose the necessary steps for availability or import of such items.

Federal government’s recommendations about imposing a windfall tax on natural gas and crude oil under Petroleum Policy, 2012 were accorded approval and the cabinet decided to implement a new apprenticeship act in place of Apprenticeship Ordinance, 1962. Recruitment on 1,142 educators’ posts in DG Khan was approved along with forwarding of the forensic audit report of Auqaf Department for 2015–18 to the departmental audit committee.

The committee will present the report before cabinet standing committee for finance and development after review. The cabinet approved a four-week long mandatory 30th MCMC training of provincial civil service officers at NSPP.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2020.