CM sets property transfer fee at 1%

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has fixed the property transfer fee at at one percent across the province.

He said in a statement that the revenue of the Punjab government will increase a lot and the decision has been taken in the best public interest.

“There will be an increase in registries across the province and our initiative is aimed at giving relief to the people. This initiative will also promote the construction industry, creating immense employment opportunities,” he stated.

The decision was taken in a meeting attended by Senior Member of Board of Revenue Zahid Akhtar Zaman, CM’s Principal Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti and Finance Secretary Iftikhar Amjad.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi also presided over a meeting in which proposals were submitted for the welfare of prisoners.

The CM sought a comprehensive plan within a week with regard to jail reforms.

He said the prisoners who gave better performance in education would be given remission in punishment.

It was decided in principle that the doctors working in the jail hospitals will be paid Rs150,000 special allowance.

It was recommended during the meeting to allow every prisoner to talk to family members for 300 minutes per month.

The chief minister ordered the provision of quality food and eggs in breakfast to the prisoners.

He said necessary action should be taken to provide foreign prisoners consular access.

It was decided that the arrangements of the jail canteens should be handed over to the utility stores and other mega stores.

The CM ordered prompt measures to provide free legal aid to the needy prisoners. He said all prisoners would be provided hygiene kits.

He directed the relevant authorities to ensure medical checkup of the prisoners after every three months and mammogram facility for women inmates.

The chief minister said rooms should be properly arranged for meetings of prisoners with their families.

He said installation of cooling systems in the prisons should be completed in a phased manner.

The chief minister said the management of 43 hospitals of the prisons will be handed over to the health department and they will be upgraded.

The CM asserted that the prisons should ensure a living standard for the prisoners, adding that he desired to ensure their basic human rights. He highlighted that the purpose behind the reforms was to provide basic facilities to the prisoners.

The CM called for arranging gymnasium and sports facilities for the detained children.

He appreciated the endeavours of Jail Reforms Committee Member Haba Fawad for the rights of the imprisoned women and children.

A proposal to provide air conditioned buses for prisoners appearing in courts also came under review.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2022.