LAHORE: The West Pakistan Cabinet, which met here today [Dec 14] under the chairmanship of Provincial Governor Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, decided to provincialise all such high schools in the areas of former Punjab, Bahawalpur and Sind as were at present being run by the District Councils and Town Committees. The process of provincialisation, which would largely meet the demands of the teachers serving in these institutions, would be completed in a period of three years. The Cabinet decided to earmark Rs. 30 lakhs for the first year and Rs. 60 lakhs and Rs. 90 lakhs for the second and the third years respectively. The Cabinet also decided that in future 70 per cent of such Government posts, the incumbents of which came in contact frequently with the villagers and which were not to be filled through competitive examinations, would be offered to candidates from the rural areas.

Through another decision, the Government re-fixed the price of sugarcane at Rs. 2 and paisa 25 per maund, as against the existing price of Rs. 2 per maund. The decision was taken to meet the persistent demand of the sugarcane growers, but at the same time the Cabinet made it clear that the prices of sugar sold at Government depots would not be increased.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2014