Cabinet approves e-bus service

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has slammed officials for cosmetic fixes, stating that roads are constructed and cleanliness is done from wherever she passes. Presiding over a meeting, she expressed displeasure over poor cleanliness conditions, dilapidated roads and increase in encroachments in the city.

The chief minister also presided over a provincial cabinet meeting wherein approval was accorded to a group marriage scheme for 3,000 girls from underprivileged families, annual repair of the helicopter of the Punjab government, e-buses and Punjab Local Government Rules 2024.

The cabinet also decided to establish a Joint Local Government Authority in each district. It approved the Punjab Forensic Science Act 2024, repealing the Punjab Forensic Act 2007. Age relaxation of five years was given for promotion to the posts of police inspector, sub-inspector and assistant SI. The chief minister sought a plan for an electric taxi service in Lahore.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered strict monitoring of the prices of flour and chicken that was being sold at Rs50 to Rs70 higher than the government rate in Lahore.

While presiding over a meeting to review progress on the Lahore Development Plan, CM Maryam Nawaz expressed indignation over the delay in its implementation. The CM expressed severe displeasure over the poor cleanliness condition of the road, streets and bazaars of the provincial metropolis and gave three days time limit for improvement. It was decided during the meeting to launch an anti-encroachment campaign in 18 markets of Lahore.

The CM said while addressing the meeting that the relevant institutions should undertake repair of the roads of the city on their own. She added, "The road is constructed and cleanliness is done from wherever the CM passes. Why don't they undertake it on their own?" She called for patchwork on the main roads on a priority basis. She asked, "Who will be held responsible if a vehicle falls into a sinkhole in a road?" She said no potholes should be seen on the main roads. The Road Maintenance Unit of the LDA should be made functional and pro-active. Footpaths should be cleared after eliminating illegal parking. The traders should be taken into confidence in the anti-encroachment campaign. Goods should be removed from the footpaths and marking should be done for bikes and wheel carts. Specific place should be allocated for motorbikes in every parking area."

CM Maryam Nawaz was informed that 2,598 livestock animals present at 213 places had been relocated outside the urban jurisdiction. There are more than 1,800 people dwelling illegally in tents at different places in Lahore. Posters will be removed from the walls, poles and pillars. The CM called for persuading the farmers to voluntarily remove their livestock from the urban area in the first phase.

Meanwhile, the provincial cabinet approved the largest programme of mass weddings in Punjab. The scheme for marriage of 3,000 girls from poor families across Punjab was approved, under which Rs100,000 would be paid to each bride through ATM card along with 13 items to be gifted, including furniture, clothes and dinner sets. The CM directed the authorities to increase the scope of the scheme.

The cabinet also approved the allotment of 100,000 acres of land to landless farmers on lease for three and five years for temporary cultivation across Punjab.

In the meeting, an e-bus service scheme was approved for Punjab, under which 27 vehicles will arrive in the first phase, while 1.2MW solar panels will be installed in the parking lots for charging. As many as 680 e-buses will be functional across Punjab by the end of the current year.