November 13, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 7, 1423

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LAHORE, Nov 12: Governor Khalid Maqbool agreed on Tuesday that people were worried about the lifting of the ban on serving food at weddings, hinting at the permission of only one but simple dish after Ramazan.

Talking to people at an Iftar party arranged for them at the Governor’s House, he said he had already taken notice of the issue but had not taken a decision due to Ramazan during which there were less weddings.

He said he also wanted to allow the new government to tackle the issue.

He said he had nevertheless constituted a committee to ponder over the issue and make recommendations on how to protect the interest of the people. A decision would be taken while strictly keeping in view the interest of the poor people, he said.

He said the government would introduce such a system that could be implemented and acceptable to all sections of society as there were many who considered a ban on serving food on weddings a setback to their business.

PRIVATIZATION: Earlier, he categorically said the government was not going to privatize any hospital or educational institution or to fire any doctor or teacher. However, while replying to a question on worst sanitation conditions inside the Walled City, he said people were required to pay for service in hospitals and schools to increase their efficiency.

His attention towards the rumours of the privatization of educational institutions and hospitals was drawn by a student of the APWA College who said teachers were on a strike for the past two months and students were the sufferers.

Governor Maqbool said he had time and again clarified that no educational institution or hospital would be privatized nor would the fees of college or schools be increased.

CRIME AGAINST WOMEN: He said those committing crime against women and children would find the government their biggest opponent. Police had already been instructed to deal with such people sternly, he added.

The governor took a serious notice of the rising incident of robberies and thefts when some people, including the wife of a senior army officer, informed him about them.

The Lahore DPO said crime rate used to increase in Ramazan but arrangements had been made to protect the people and the property. He claimed that police had already busted some gangs of robbers. The governor also took a notice of the delay in the payment of salaries to the district government officials and those working in its solid waste management department on work-charge basis, asking the DCO to improve the system at the earliest.

TRAFFIC POLICE: Some people drew his attention towards the attitude of traffic police, who they claimed, were issuing tickets to people, especially young one without any reason. A trader said every traffic police constable was daily exhausting two copies of the tickets and this was being done at the cost of common man.

The traffic DIG denied the charge saying the new system had been introduced because of the personal interest of the governor. The governor said traffic police were behaving with people but kept mum when a van driver said they were extorting money and unjustifiably issuing the tickets to those resisting to be blackmailed.

Governor Maqbool asked the DIG to order the highway police to refrain from taking unnecessary action against farmers carrying fodder from Lahore on tractor-trolleys.

When pointed out by a citizens the governor asked the Lahore Nazim to further improve sasta and Sunday bazaars during Ramazan. He said the government would make efforts to provide quality and cheap products to the people during the month but it could not make traders to follow the instructions by force.

He promised to do the needful when a girl pointed out that she held an MA English degree and computer certificate but was still unemployed. He said unemployment was the biggest problem and could be resolved only when the country progressed economically.

The governor said the government had done its utmost to provide relief to the people. In Lahore, it had spent millions of rupees on development works in neglected localities. It had given special funds to the hospitals and was trying to improve working of police besides ensuring that they did not misuse their authority.

He listed different steps by the government and said it wanted to create an environment wherein the people could lead their lives in peace, also providing them with ample recreational facilities, he said.

He said the government ensured production of healthy and quality rice and had taken care of farmers regarding their wheat and cotton crops. A conference was being held on sugarcane on Wednesday, he said.

Later talking to reporters, Governor Maqbool said the amended rules and business for more powers to police under the new police law would be notified in two days.