Punjab cabinet members donate 2-month salary

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a provincial cabinet meeting held entirely through video link for the first time, with ministers and officials participating online as part of the government's austerity campaign.

According to a statement, the cabinet expressed gratitude for the successful completion of the Ramazan Nigehban Programme and appreciated the efforts of the district administrations, police, Bank of Punjab and other relevant authorities for effectively implementing the relief package.

As part of austerity measures, members of the cabinet, special assistants and parliamentary secretaries will donate two months' salaries to the prime minister's fund, while members of the provincial assembly will voluntarily contribute 25 per cent of their salary and allowances for two months.

Government officers of grade 17 and above will also contribute their basic salary of two days to the fund.

The cabinet also approved a series of development initiatives across the province. These included provision of land for the establishment of the Mian Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology in Kasur, approval of the charter for the Quaid-i-Azam Institute of Sciences in Sargodha, and approval of a sports complex in Kundian.