The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved key features of a new industrial development and export promotion programme envisaging investments of Rs 1.995 trillion and the creation of more than 162,000 jobs.
The programme, presented by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb at the 37th meeting of the provincial cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, envisages Rs1.089tr from the provincial government and Rs 906 billion from the private sector.
According to the briefing, the programme, titled PIYUT in the official handout, 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, reaffirming the chief minister’s commitment to setting up a Parks and Horticulture Authority in every district.
The cabinet approved subsidies for Phase V of the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Programme, under which the provincial government will provide Rs 9.5bn for 10,000 high-powered tractors. More than 250,000 applications have been received for the programme, according to the briefing.
The government has distributed 44,000 tractors in the past two and a half years, compared with 10,000 over the preceding 20 years. Around 25,000 tractors have so far been delivered to farmers, the meeting was told. The cabinet also approved a waiver of late registration fees under the scheme.
Subsidies were also approved for an agricultural transformation project in Thal. The government will provide Rs 7.6bn for drip irrigation, solar power, water storage and other facilities across 10,000 acres in Mankera and Layyah. The cabinet also approved subsidies for Phase IV of the low-powered Green Tractor Programme, covering another 10,000 tractors.
The cabinet approved the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing programme, under which the Bank of Punjab will extend 40,000 loans through an allocation of Rs60bn. The chief minster rejected a proposal to impose stamp duty under the scheme.
The chief minister directed the immediate payment of outstanding dues 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.
Amendments to traffic fines under the Punjab Ring Road Authority were approved, with substantially higher penalties proposed for overspeeding, 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 the approval of the establishment of the Maryam Nawaz Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Mianwali, recruitment of school teaching interns in government schools, and operational arrangements for 1,500 electric buses at tehsil level.
The cabinet also approved the hosting of the 14th South Asian Games.
The meeting approved relaxation of the recruitment ban for several departments and agencies, including the Suthra Punjab Authority and its agency, the Punjab Social Protection Authority, the Border Military Police and Baloch Levies in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, and the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre.
Recruitment against 79 posts at the intelligence centre was approved, along with hiring for vacant posts in other departments and the creation of 70 posts under a project management unit of the Youth Affairs and Sports Department.
The cabinet approved the establishment of new Special Branch offices in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan, recruitment against 37 administrative posts at the Punjab Forensic Science Authority, and the creation of posts for child protection units across the province.
It also approved the formation of a provincial cabinet committee to consult on announcing a date for local government elections.
The cabinet approved the establishment of the University of Punjab’s Pothohar Campus in Gujar Khan, the conversion of the University of Rasul scheme into a university and medical college, and the inclusion of various development projects in the annual development programme.
It also approved the construction of an additional 10.5-kilometre ring road in Bahawalpur, a flyover at Abdul Hakeem railway crossing, rehabilitation and improvement of roads in Lahore’s Badami Bagh, and funds for the revamping of Lahore Railway Station.
The meeting approved the declaration of Murree as a calamity-hit district to compensate those affected in Jheeka Gali. It also approved flood-protection works to safeguard agricultural land and settlements, as well as measures to prevent river erosion.
The cabinet endorsed the continuation of the Maryam Nawaz Social Security Ration Card Scheme and approved a supplementary grant of Rs81.6 million for purchasing assistive devices under the “Maryam Ko Batain” helpline.
It also approved the establishment of a Punjab Senior Citizens Council, amendments to several laws and rules, and appointments to various public-sector institutions.
At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet offered prayers for security personnel who embraced martyrdom during operations against terrorists and for the late mother-in-law of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.