DCs to be accountable for price list violations

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has declared that price control and law and order are her main focus.

Chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, she said, "Failure to control prices in a district will be considered failure of the deputy commissioner concerned."

The Punjab cabinet approved the establishment of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority, which will work at the provincial, district and tehsil levels.

The chief minister highlighted, "Vegetables should be grown locally as per demand of every city, so that transportation costs can be reduced."

The chief minister said the government has to take care of everyone. She directed the department concerned to draft guidelines for establishing a housing scheme for artists.

She also directed all departments to start paid internship programmes to better engage fresh graduates.

The cabinet approved the Chief Minister Punjab Climate Leadership Development Internship Programme, under which three-month internship will be given to 2,000 students at Rs25,000 per month along with issuing them Social Service Certificates on completion in order to help them get admission to good foreign universities.

It approved amendments to Section 144 under the Criminal Code, 1898, empowering the deputy commissioners to impose the provision for 30 days, home secretary for 90 days and the cabinet for a longer period of time.

The cabinet directed the Punjab government to pay all charges except insurance cost in the e-bike scheme. The Punjab government will pay the charges for documentation, registration and number plate.

Approval was also given to add 10,000 more electric bikes to the scheme.

The cabinet also approved the Chief Minister's District Sustainable Development Goals Programme, under which about 3,000 projects, including roads, parks, drainage, clean water, street lights and tube wells, will be completed in the districts at a cost of Rs80 billion. The completion period of all the development project is fixed at one year.

The Urban Unit is tasked to monitor the successful execution of the first comprehensive plan for the sustainable development of districts. It will monitor and evaluate the projects with the help of a Geographical Information System (GIS).

The cabinet was informed that people who are not able to work will get stipend through the Himmat Card. It gave a go-ahead to increase the quarterly stipend through the card to Rs10,500. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to go to the doorsteps of special persons for their verification to issue them the card.

It also approved a higher and school education e-transfer policy.