- Says an Additional Chief Secretary south & an Additional IGP south will be appointed next month
ISLAMABAD, March 11: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi says the government has decided to table a bill in the National Assembly for creating South Punjab province.
Addressing a news conference along with Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi,
Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel, Niaz Ahmed Jakhar and other PTI leaders in front of Parliament House on Wednesday, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The Foreign Minister expressed hope that the other political parties will support the bill keeping in view their stances for giving rights to the people of southern Punjab. He said two-thirds majority will be required for the amendment, and for the purpose, a political consensus will be built.
The Foreign Minister said the meeting also decided to set up a secretariat for southern Punjab for solving people’s problems at their door steps. He said that an additional chief secretary south and an additional IGP south will be appointed next month.
He said 3.5 billion rupees and 1350 additional pots will be required for establishing a separate secretariat for South Punjab. However, in the next month, an additional chief secretary and an additional inspector general of police for Southern Punjab will start working. He said one of them will have his office in Multan while the other’s office will be set up in Bahawalpur. He said that it will take time to establish complete secretariat, adding that it will take time to establish new offices and make new appointments. He said that the exercise for financial implications has been completed. He said that Rs 3.5 billion will be required for the complete establishment of secretariat, adding that 1350 additional posts will be required. He said that this is a welcoming development which has been given final shape under the leadership of PM Imran Khan.
Qureshi congratulated the people of south Punjab and elected members of the area on the establishment of south Punjab secretariat, adding that all the elected members are thankful to PM Imran Khan on this historic decision. He said that PM Imran Khan has summoned the parliamentary party meeting today (Thursday) to take other members of the party into confidence regarding this development.-Sabah
