LAHORE, Sept 19: The Punjab Assembly has so far enacted 22 laws, making the entire administrative machinery active for their effective implementation.

This was stated by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi during a meeting with Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro and Minister of State for Defence Zahid Hamid who called on him here on Sunday.

The chief minister said instead of relying on ordinances, the government had preferred to legislate new laws. The process of change had sped up with the implementation of the new laws which had led to promotion of education, health, housing, agriculture, and protection of human rights, including that of women and children.

He said so far 17 sessions of the provincial assembly had been held. The present session was taking up the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture Bill which was in the last stages of adoption.

He said the law on the protection of consumers' rights would also be adopted in near future, ensuring protection of people against inflation and prevention of the marketing of substandard products.