LAHORE: The Punjab government has conveniently ignored the challenges posed by climate change threat to the country’s most populated province while identifying the 15 “milestones” it wanted to achieve to materialise Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of 100-Day change.

The Punjab cabinet in its maiden meeting identified 15 milestones ranging from improving local government system, police, poverty alleviation, reviving industry, boosting tourism, transforming agriculture, livestock, women empowerment, resolving water issues to improving health and education indicators in the province, but surprisingly the agenda did not include strengthening of forests and tree plantation in the province.

This sharply contrasts with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan who has launched a tree plantation drive “Plant4Pakistan” in Haripur and tweeted: “Today we launch our tree plantation drive #Plant4Pakistan across the country. I want everyone to join this #GreenPakistan drive so we can counter the twin threats of climate change and pollution confronting our future generations”.

Officials concerned say pollution has already become a major issue in Punjab’s urban areas and for the past two years smog has been causing serious health problems for the people in some parts of Punjab, including its capital Lahore. Massive tree plantation is the only solution to the issue, they say.

Setting direction for the Punjab government during its first 100 days in power, the cabinet has put forth an agenda of empowering people at the grassroots level through a legally-backed potent local government system in the province.

The government has decided to review Punjab’s local government system till September 20 and propose a blueprint for its revamp till Oct 15. It wants eventually to come up with a draft legislation to amend LG law by Nov 15 this year.

In order to meet the PTI’s much-trumpeted reform agenda, the Punjab government has decided to depoliticise and strengthen police through a Police Act for the province. In this connection, a draft law is to be presented in the Punjab Assembly by Oct 30 this year.

For the creation of south Punjab province along administrative lines, a working group will be created till Sept 10,
that will begin consultative meetings with key stakeholders to build a consensus. A roadmap for south Punjab province, along with alternatives, will be prepared till Oct 15 this year.

The Punjab government also plans to introduce Sehat Insaf Card in the province by Nov 15 as part of a poverty
alleviation drive for the poorest districts across the country.

In line with Imran Khan’s promise of creating 10 million jobs in the country, the Punjab government has asked the industries minister to come up with a strategy for skill development as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. The minister would also be responsible for reviving the manufacturing sector and facilitate
rapid growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), besides reviewing and developing a new labour policy. The deadline for this task has been fixed at Nov 15.

In order to boost the tourism industry in Punjab, the government has instructed the minister concerned to come up with tourism strategies, besides plans for conversion of guest houses into public resorts. The department will also be required to propose new tourism destinations in the province till Nov 15.

The government has also decided to launch an agriculture policy till Nov 15, aimed at increasing farmers’ profitability.

For transformation of agriculture produce markets and incentivising value addition, the government has asked the minister concerned to prepare draft legislation on private sector market participation and develop a market expansion plan till Oct 30, besides an incentive plan for food processing till Nov 15. Similarly, a livestock plan is needed to be developed, funded and launched till Nov 15.

About water scarcity, the Punjab government has decided to come up with a ‘Water Master Plan’ in line with the National Water Policy till Sept 15.

The government has also sought identification of options to make clean drinking water available to the masses across the province till Sept 30, besides developing and launching similar plans for Islamabad and provincial capitals by Nov 15.

In order to transform health and education sectors, the ministers of both departments had been asked to come up with blueprints of five-year plans till Oct 30.

The government has also set a deadline of Oct 30 for development and announcement of a ‘Women Empowerment Package’ along with approved funding.

Sources told Dawn that senior minister Aleem Khan has been nominated as focal person to coordinate with the chief minister and all ministers in Punjab to steer the progress of the prime minister’s 100-day agenda. They said that Aleem

Khan, industries minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and school education minister Murad Rass acted more aggressively in the
meetings to compensate for a “weak” chief minister.

On the other hand, the sources say, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar remained low key while chairing the cabinet
meeting and continued assuring the cabinet members that he would be available round the clock for administrative
purposes.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2018