European Union Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi discussed the promotion of cooperation in various fields, especially the construction of water reservoirs and small dams, on Tuesday.
The chief minister informed the ambassador that the Punjab government planned to build two dams on the Chenab river.
Small dams will also be built on the hill torrents of the Koh-e-Sulaiman range to save the rainwater for agriculture.
The EU’s technical support for the projects would be appreciated, the chief minister said.
He said the provincial government would also build houses for the flood victims with the help of the Akhuwat foundation and the European Union could also support the project.
Meanwhile, road repair work has been started in the flood-affected areas, the CM added.
Measures taken for workers’ and minorities’ welfare, elimination of child labour and the human rights situation were also discussed during the
meeting.
The chief minister pointed out that laws had been enacted to eradicate child labour. The government was making the laws to curb the menace more stringent, he said.
The CM thanked the EU for its support during the coronavirus pandemic. “We appreciate the support provided by the EU countries in various fields,” he added.
He said the implementation of labour laws had also been ensured while taking steps to protect workers’ rights and the welfare of their children. Social security hospitals have been built for the workers and their families, where the treatment is free, he noted.
The children of the workers are given a marriage grant whose amount has been increased, he said.
“I had started the work on prison reforms in my previous tenure but the subsequent government stopped the work on it. Now, we are working afresh to provide the necessary facilities to the detainees in the jails,” he said. He said the food for the prisoners had been im- proved. Schools have been built to educate children confined with their mothers in jails and a free legal aid system has been introduced for needy inmates, the CM said.
A jail reforms package will be approved by the cabinet and a bill to implement it by the provincial assembly, he added.
The CM said the Punjab government had taken effective steps to protect human rights. All minorities have equal rights in Pakistan and special funds have been allocated for their welfare. A quota has been fixed for minorities’ in education and jobs. A Pakistan based on the principles of patience, tolerance and brotherhood is our destination.
The CM said the government valued the EU’s cooperation regarding improvement of the social sector. It also wants to further strengthen the relations.
The EU ambassador expressed regret over the human and financial losses in this year’s flood and said assistance in the dams projects would be considered.
He said the EU would increase cooperation with the Punjab government in the fields of textiles, manufacturing, and small and medium enterprises.
Housing initiative
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced during a meeting with the Akhuwat welfare organisation’s founder Dr Amjad Saqib that the government was going to relaunch a loan programme for construction of houses for the low-in-come people.
The CM approved the renewal of an agreement between the provincial government and Akhuwat through the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency.
The CM said the Akhuwat microfinance organisation would provide loans to needy people for the construction of houses.
Loans will be given on a priority basis for the construction of houses in flood-affected areas, he added and asserted that providing a roof to the flood victims was a priority.
The provincial government would lend support to building houses as the federal government had not given anything to the flood victims, he claimed and added that they would be given resources to build houses.
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