Punjab govt to focus on solving basic issues of people: Fayyazul Hassan Chohan

LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan on Friday said that the provincial government will focus on solving the basic problems like healthcare and education by standing above mega projects like Orange train and Metro bus.

Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Fayyazul Chohan said that scope of health insurance cards will be extended to all the districts and doctors and paramedical staff were being recruited on ad-hoc basis so as to solve the health problems faced by the people.

According to a statement released from his office, he announced that ten years’ tax remission will be given in industrial policy and imported machinery will be duty free for the first time.

He said that such draft laws had been given approval for the first time in the history of the province which will be wholly helpful in solving the basic problems of the people.

 Giving a detail of such decisions, he said that health insurance program will be started in 19 more districts while the rate of provincial sales tax will be zero on health insurance program.

The minister said that draft law had been approved to give concession on property tax in six computerized districts of the province. Meanwhile, he said that draft of amendment law of Punjab Motor Vehicles Rule 1969 under Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 had been approved for introducing automated registration cards. Draft law has also been approved for the establishment of Punjab Skills Development Authority, reads the statement.

Chohan said that draft of Punjab Labor Policy 2018 had also been approved by the cabinet along with policy drafts of Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2018 and Agricultural Policy 2018. Similarly, amendment in Punjab Right to Information Act 2018 had been approved and the provincial cabinet had also given approval to draft law for amendment in Punjab Restaurant Invoice Monitoring System Rules 2015 and Punjab Sales Tax for Services Enforcement Rules 2014.

The meeting had given approval to draft law for granting rights to provide grant for financial assistance along with granting leave for Hajj and Umrah, he added.

 The minister said that draft of amendment in Indus River System Authority Act 1992 (Chashma Right Canal Lift Irrigation Canal Project) had also been approved.