Wheat support price set at Rs3,900 per 40Kg

CM vows to protect interests of small farmers

LAHORE:

The Punjab cabinet has set the minimum support price of wheat for 2023-24 at Rs3,900 per 40kg.

“It is my commitment to ensure that the interests of small farmers are protected at all costs,” Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said while chairing a cabinet meeting.

She said interest free loan of Rs150,000 each will be given to small farmers for buying farm inputs like seeds, fertiliser and pesticides through the best farmer cards in the history of Pakistan.

The cabinet also approved the Wheat Procurement Policy for 2024-25.

They provincial cabinet also approved a proposal to establish special speedy trial courts in Punjab for cases related to rape, child abuse, domestic violence, electricity theft and other crimes.

The Punjab advocate general briefed the cabinet about proposed amendments to the defamation law and the establishment of special courts. He said the trial in defamation cases should be completed within 180 days.

Defamation notices would be issued simultaneously through major newspapers, social media, courier service and registered post to avoid complaints of non-receipt and delay, he said while referring to the proposed amendments.

The AGP apprised the cabinet that the amendment would be presented soon in the Punjab Assembly.

The chief minister appreciated the move and said, “The culture of lying and false accusations must end.”

The cabinet also approved the formation of Cabinet Standing Committee on Legal Affairs and amendments to the alternate dispute resolution law.

Approval to remove the chairman of the Gujranwala Drug Court on complaints of misconduct was also given by the cabinet.

Provincial Ministers, the chief secretary, IGP and other relevant officers attended the meeting.

Non-performing schools

Chairing another meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz sought a final plan of a project for providing flavoured milk up to primary school students.

Reviewing the School Education Reforms Programme, the CM decided to introduce reforms in the 13,000 non-performing government schools in three months. She directed the officials concerned to contact the Education Management Organisation to bring improvements in the non-performing schools.

It was decided in principle to contact donors for the provision of unavailable facilities in the government schools along with reviewing a proposal to finalise a partnership with the educational NGOs.

Provincial School Education Minister Rana Sikanndar Hayat said a plan had been prepared for the provision of textbooks in the government schools. He said a mechanism of monitoring and evaluation had been prepared for the quality of education.

The CM expressed her concern over the ghost enrolment of students in the schools. She called for setting up computer labs and libraries in the government schools.

She said the vacant posts would be filled after undertaking a rationalisation process within three months.

The proposal for partnership with the private sector to oversee performance of 136 non-performing schools was reviewed.

Chairing a meeting to review implementation of a solid waste management system, she said garbage should not be seen in the streets and markets.

Negligence in this regard would not be tolerated, she said.

She said guidelines should also be devised for analysing the performance of WASAs receiving financial resources and subsidy.

The chief minister directed Provincial Minister Zeeshan Rafique to implement digital monitoring of the solid waste management system to ensure transparency in the outsourcing.

She added, “Solid waste management vehicles should also be kept clean.”

The chief minister was briefed on a proposed contract to outsource solid waste management in all districts. She was informed that 23 landfill sites and 66 transfer stations will be constructed in all divisional headquarters of the province. Organic, inorganic, iron and plastic waste will be sorted at the transfer stations after door-to-door collection of the waste.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also visited the Chinese Consulate and expressed her deep sense of sorrow over the death of Chinese nationals in an attack in Shangla

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2024.