Industry mapping to help combat smog: CM Maryam

Govt vows to aiding farmers, small businesses

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that data of all industrial units should be collected to formulate smog mitigation strategies. She expressed these views while chairing a meeting on urban units on Friday.

She directed staff to focus on physical and social planning, implementation and monitoring across Punjab. She said, ‘It is important to update healthcare, industry and labour data for better service delivery.’

The CM further highlighted that the mapping of industrial zones is essential, as it would promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the province. She added that through mapping, the government can identify which sector is growing and where growth is needed. It was agreed in the meeting that Punjab can become a growth engine if the data of industries is well-organised.

‘The continuous updating of infrastructure surveys is the need of the hour,’ she added. She further said that the Regional Economic Corridor in Punjab should be comprehensive and based on data-driven authentic planning. The Chief Minister stated that the socio-economic data of the entire population should be prepared by mapping people residing in different areas.

Earlier, the Chief Minister was briefed that the Urban Unit digitized 80 percent of Punjab’s 25,000 ‘Mauzas’ under the “Mauzas Dashboard.” Data of 66,313 units was obtained by mapping the manufacturing industry, while residential and commercial properties can be identified through using artificial intelligence.

Through a device installed on government vehicles, data can be collected from electric poles, bus stops, sign boards, street lights and traffic signals among other markers.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chairman Planning and Development Board, Secretary Finance, CEO Urban Unit and other relevant officers attended the meeting.

Also on Friday, the CM chaired a special meeting in which matters pertaining to wheat cultivation were reviewed. Additionally, the proposal to issue Kissan Cards was reviewed in the meeting. The CM maintained that the Punjab government stands with farmers and will not leave them alone.

Maryam Nawaz directed officials to undertake all possible steps for the assistance of wheat cultivators, adding that the PMLN’s manifesto promised the well-being of farmers. She stated that we the government is also aware about the problems faced by the common man, adding that they aim to provide subsidized flour to the public.

It was informed during the briefing that the government had to bear circular debt to the tune of Rs630 billion to grant the subsidy on wheat. The government had to pay a Rs80 billion markup per annum on the circular debt and has paid off Rs469 billion of debt in the last 8 months.

The proposal regarding the Social Protection and Targeted Subsidy was reviewed during the meeting, as was the proposal for the uninterrupted provision of fertiliser and pesticides to the farmers. Provincial Ministers Bilal Yasin, Azma Bokhari, Ashiq Kirmani, Former Senator Pervez Rasheed, MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, SMBR, Secretaries of Food, Agriculture, Finance, Chairman PITB and other concerned officials attended the meeting.