Talk to the governor: Episode 3

The latest video of web-savvy Governor Punjab Salman Taseer ‘Talk to the governor’ was uploaded online on Monday.

The latest video of web-savvy Governor Punjab Salman Taseer ‘Talk to the governor’ was uploaded on the internet on Monday.

In the video, the governor apologised for the delay in addressing the people’s problems as he had earlier claimed that this would be a weekly activity.

Taseer then addressed issues of some of the people who had contacted him. He spoke about the complaints a person had against the Agricultural University of Faisalabad and assured that he would take it up with the vice chancellor soon. Another person wrote to him asking for age-relaxation in civil service, to which Taseer said that it would be difficult to address, but he would talk to the prime minister about it.

Answering a query about the Basant festival the governor said that he had taken the issue up with the Punjab government before and had told them that the event is the “heart of Lahore.” The governor said that the Punjab government is quite stubborn in their policies and have, in the past, used force to make sure the ban against Basant is not violated. He said that Basant is a cultural festival as well as the identity of the people.

At the request of another person who asked for the implementation of Paypal in Pakistan so as to facilitate a smooth inflow of remittances, Taseer said that he would take it up with the ministry of information Technology.

The governor, addressing the concerns of several people regarding the Pak-Afghan-India trade transit, clarified that India is not allowed to transport its goods through Pakistan, but Afghanistan is, which is beneficial for Pakistan as it will improve the relations between the neighbouring countries as well as make it easier for Pakistan to trade with countries like Tajikistan, through Afghan territory.

Talking on the issue of terrorism in Punjab, the governor made it clear that law and order in the province is the responsibility of the Punjab government. He said the Punjab government needs to break of its ties with banned outfits, once against pointing towards Rana Sanaullah’s relations with the Sipah-e-Sahaba.

The governor said that the recent attacks on the Imambargah in Sargodha and the Ahmadi community were a result of maintaining such relations. He said that that he has always been of the view that there should be zero tolerance towards such problem.

The governor ended the video by apologising that he could not discuss all the problems mailed to him, but at the same time expressed his gratitude at the number of people who are sending him queries.