LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has approved a sweeping set of policy decisions covering agriculture, employment, public transport, health, education and governance during its 32nd meeting, unveiling what the chief minister described as a new roadmap for inclusive development across the province.
A key decision was the launch of the Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar programme, under which state-owned agricultural land would be allotted for cultivation. The chief minister directed immediate measures to allocate government land to 50,000 people, saying public agricultural land would no longer serve elite interests but be used to generate livelihoods for the poor. To expand public transport, the cabinet approved procurement of 1,000 green electric buses to launch e-bus services at the tehsil level, extending the network beyond districts. It also decided to introduce a cashless payment system from March 25 for public transport, including T-Cash cards and bank cards, with higher fares applicable to cash payments.
The cabinet approved large-scale recruitment across departments, including 216 constable posts in excise, taxation and narcotics control, 1,000 new posts in the Crime Control Department (CCD), and 980 posts in the tourism police, along with additional vacancies in several other departments. Restrictions on recruitment in tourism, archaeology, museums and allied departments were eased.
The meeting directed that horse and cattle shows be organised in all districts and instructed authorities to identify and develop new tourist destinations, in addition to Murree. The cabinet was informed that 141 dacoits had surrendered in riverine areas, while hostages abducted from Sindh were recovered using thermal drones and surveillance cameras.
The chief minister has constituted a high-level Steering Committee to address and mitigate safety risks related to the power distribution system and consumer-end installations in Lahore. Taking notice of the unsafe and disorderly condition of the power infrastructure, the CM expressed grave concern over tangled, dangling, overloaded and substandard conductors, cables and related installations on electricity poles, as well as unsafe consumer wiring, which collectively pose severe risks to public safety, resulting in power outages, fire incidents and other accidents.
On the directions of Maryam Nawaz, comprehensive and effective arrangements are being made in Murree to ensure that tourists enjoy the weather in a safe and pleasant manner.
Maryam Nawaz has approved a three-day Basant festival to be held on February 6, 7 and 8, marking the first government-sponsored and fully organised celebration of the traditional spring festival in the province.
For security and emergency response, 4,000 police personnel, besides Suthra Punjab workers, will be deployed. Police, Rescue, Fire Brigade, Ambulance and Health plans have been finalised, while 24/7 control rooms have been set up at Safe City and the Commissioner’s Office. CCTV cameras and drones will monitor the festival throughout the three days.
For the first time in the history of Kacha operations in Punjab, a total of 148 dacoits have surrendered so far. Among them are seven criminals carrying head money of Rs10 million each, four with bounties of Rs5 million each, and two with head money of Rs2.5 million each. Authorities said most of the major criminal-infested areas in Kacha have now been cleared.
