Promise of secretariat for south Punjab Fulfilled: CM Usman Buzdar

Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar said on Friday that the government has fulfilled the promised of establishing a separate secretariat for south Punjab.

In a Twitter post, the CM Punjab said that the posts of Additional Chief Secretary and Additional Inspector General of Police have also been approved under the secretariat.

Usman Buzdar said that now the posts have been generated, new postings will be carried out soon, adding that the officials will dispense new duties from July 1.

“Due to the measures taken by the government, the sense of deprivation is ending in the people of Punjab,” said the CM Punjab.

Usman Buzdar also met with provincial assembly lawmakers and PTI officials at Circuit House Bahawalpur today, where measures to deal with locust attacks and coronavirus came under discussion.

The CM Punjab said that in the past, people were wooed with appealing slogans and lip service, adding that the PTI government will change the lives of the people of the underprivileged areas. 

Last month, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said a secretariat would be set up for the south Punjab ‘province’ and that Rs3.5 billion had been allocated for this purpose.

Meanwhile, Usman Buzdar took an aerial view of Rahim Yar Khan, Rojhan, Bhong, Sadiqabad, Kot Sabzal and other areas on Friday to review the damages caused to the crops due to locust attack and issued necessary directions to the DG PDMA who accompanied the Chief Minister. The CM directed to take every step to counter locust attack adding that saving crops from locust swarms is the priority of the government. Every effort should be made to minimize the damages and scope of the anti-locust spray should be further extended as one billion rupees have been issued to succeed the anti-locust drive, he said. He further directed to take prior steps to save the crops from any possible locust attack in coming days.

The CM also reviewed the coronavirus SOPs’ implementation and expressed concern over the violation of SOPs in bazaars. He directed strict compliance and made it clear that law will come into action in case of any non-compliance because SOPs are designed to protect the lives of the citizens.