September 25, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 24, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 24: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the authorities to ensure that people get roti at Rs2 in Ramazan and thereafter.

Presiding over a meeting on the ‘Ramazan package’ at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday, Sharif directed the committee set up for this purpose under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to submit its recommendations at the earliest. He directed the authorities to ensue that people easily get flour on Eid.

According to a handout, the chief minister said at the meeting that relief to the poor was the top priority of the Punjab government. He said that financial discipline would be maintained in the province and non-development expenditure would be curtailed.

He said people would get roti at Rs2 at any cost. He said that claims of development would be meaningless if the poor do not get relief.

Sharif directed the industries secretary to consider a proposal on large mobile ovens in the province. He said that additional flour quota should be supplied to the market to ensure its easy availability to people. He directed the chief secretary to finalise his recommendations within five days for provision of roti to the masses at Rs2 throughout the year.

Earlier, the chief secretary told the meeting that committees had been set up to ensure sale of roti at Rs2 even after Ramazan. He said these committees were considering various aspects and would submit their recommendations to the chief minister shortly.

Punjab Food Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran was also present at the meeting.

Libraries: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said libraries would be established at the union council level for promoting the habit of book-reading.

The chief minister was addressing a meeting held to review setting up of libraries at union councils and creating awareness about the importance of book-reading among youth and students.

He said the promotion of reading habit, especially among the students, was the need of the hour because it helped in polishing their talent. He said a task force would be constituted for this purpose while it would also ensure availability of quality books at libraries.

He said seminars would also be organised at divisional level to seek proposals of teachers, parents and intellectuals for strengthening education sector.

The chief minister said only those nations made progress which faced challenges courageously and moved ahead by dint of their determination and hard work.

Improvement of the existing system and institutions was a challenge for the present government and measures would be taken for the betterment of the system with the cooperation of masses, he said.

The government, he said, would leave no stone unturned for uplifting the living standard as well as progress and prosperity of the province.

He said position-holders in different examinations had been fully encouraged whereas services of heads of educational institutions of such students had also been acknowledged and cash awards and certificates had been given to them.

All possible measures would be taken for the betterment of teachers and it was their responsibility to utilise all their energies for the education and character-building of students, he said.