The Punjab cabinet has approved the province's first-ever comprehensive Child Protection Policy.
This policy developed by the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau with technical support from UNICEF Pakistan was described as a new benchmark for child welfare, marking a transformative step toward ending violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect against children in the communities.
The policy, according to the CPWB chairperson, serves as a comprehensive roadmap for child protection mechanisms across Punjab. It is the culmination of efforts that began over two years ago with the submission of the draft to the home department. Case management activities under the policy framework have been underway for over a year.
Chairing the cabinet meeting that took up 101 agenda items, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also announced a plan to reduce the power tariffs in order to provide maximum relief to the people.
This is the second time that a province was fiddling with electricity tariffs that originally is a federal subject. Once implemented, Punjab will became the first province to voluntarily reduce electricity tariffs.
The chief minister approved reduction in the tariffs of Punjab's power companies. On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the tariffs may be reduced by 30 to 40 per cent.
The provincial cabinet approved the reduction in tariffs of the Quaid-i-Azam and Punjab Thermal Power Private Limited.
To address the grievances of the provinces estranged farmers, the chief minister said that a huge package is going to be given to the wheat growers.
It was informed in the meeting that the payment of Rs5,000 per acre subsidy has been completed to 514,000 wheat farmers.
The payment will be made after the verification process of another 500,000 farmers is completed.
An alllocation of Rs63 billion was provided in the second phase through the Kisan Card and farmers have purchased fertilizer worth Rs18 billion.
The cabinet approved the Chief Minister Wheat Programme 2025.
Continuing with the tradition of the provincial PML-N government of creating layers upon layers of companies and authorities, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Air Punjab Private Limited Company.
The CM set a target of launching Air Punjab within a year.
She ordered immediate steps for closing vaping centres in the province. She also directed the authorities to ensure safety gear for labourers and assigned the labour department a target of implementing safety SOPs for workers within a month.
The provincial cabinet approved ration cards for workers and miners registered with the labour department and the provision of electric buses in nine divisions of Punjab.
The CM issued directives to establish charging stations in all major cities as soon as possible.
Eco-tourism projects were approved for Changa Manga and Lal Sohanra parks.
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