Rs1,995b Punjab industrial, export plan approved

Provincial cabinet briefed on value enhancement plans

LAHORE:

The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved key features of an industrial development and export promotion programme envisaging investments of Rs1.995 trillion and creation of more than 162,000 jobs.

The programme presented by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif envisages investment of Rs1.089 trillion from the provincial government and Rs906 billion from the private sector.

It was shared in a briefing that the programme focuses on industrial infrastructure, cluster development, export competitiveness, value-chain transformation, mechanisation in agriculture and livestock, and public-private partnerships.

It also includes support for existing industries, e-business, e-commerce, garments, plug-and-play facilities, and testing and certification services for leather, footwear and sports goods.

Material-testing laboratories for the cutlery, handmade tools, ceramics and fan industries, along with export financing for horticulture and floriculture, are also part of the initiative.

Agriculture processing parks will be established in Sargodha, Khanewal, Okara and Bhakkar.

The programme also covers wheat value enhancement, meat and milk value chains, skills development, citrus, potato and mango value addition, tourism and aquaculture.

The cabinet approved the establishment of horticulture authorities in 20 districts.

It approved subsidies for a new phase of the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Programme, under which the provincial government will provide Rs9.5b for 10,000 high-powered tractors. More than 250,000 applications have been received for the programme. Around 25,000 tractors have so far been delivered to farmers. The cabinet also approved a waiver of late registration fees under the scheme.

The cabinet approved subsidies for Phase IV of the low-powered Green Tractor Programme.

Subsidies were also approved for an agricultural transformation project in Thal.

The government will provide Rs7.6b for drip irrigation, solar power, water storage and other facilities across 10,000 acres in Mankera and Layyah.

The cabinet approved an allocation of Rs60b for the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar loan programme. The chief minister rejected a proposal to impose stamp duty for the scheme.

She ordered immediate payment of the amount required to make medical equipment functional in hospitals. The cabinet approved funds to clear essential liabilities of the specialised healthcare and medical education department.

It also approved the donation of six clinic-on wheels vehicles to Gilgit-Baltistan and 15 to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Revision of traffic fines under the Punjab Ring Road Authority were approved, with higher penalties proposed for speeding, overloading, pedestrian-crossing violations and other offences.

The cabinet also approved amendments to an air-quality management project to provide electric trucks and anti-smog guns, along with funding for the expansion of public services and development schemes.

Other decisions included approval of the establishment of the Maryam Nawaz Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Mianwali, recruitment of teaching interns in government schools, and operational arrangements for 1,500 electric buses at the tehsil level.

The cabinet also approved the hosting of the 14th South Asian Games.

It approved relaxation of the recruitment ban for several departments and agencies.