LAHORE: After getting a pat on the back by Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent visit to the provincial capital, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar got another confidence booster on Tuesday when the Punjab cabinet unanimously expressed “complete confidence in his leadership and demanded action against those running a campaign against him with a specific agenda.”

The resolution, presented by Law Minister Raja Basharat in the cabinet meeting, stated that the session expressed full confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, adding the “journey of development” would continue under his dynamic leadership and no one would be allowed to interrupt it.

It lauded Mr Buzdar’s services with regard to the development of “backward and deprived areas, including that of southern Punjab”.

The meeting strongly condemned the elements “engaged in baseless and vicious propaganda” against the chief minister, demanding action against those “distorting facts” under rules at the relevant forum because they were running a baseless campaign against him with some specific agenda.

Renames WCLA, expands its scope to entire province

The whole cabinet including Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Akhtar Malik and Aamar Yasir expressed their complete confidence in Buzdar.

On the occasion, Raja Basharat stated there was no corruption allegation against the CM or any of his cabinet members.

“It is a credit of the Punjab government that no scandal has surfaced during the two years. The reason behind this clean government is the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. Targeting him [Buzdar] with a specific agenda is deplorable and there is no justification for baseless, vicious and beyond facts allegations on social media.”

Aleem Khan also expressed confidence in Buzdar’s leadership and added that “we all stand behind the chief minister. We repose complete confidence in you and stand with you”.

The PML-Q minister, Ammar Yasir, also expressed confidence in CM Buzdar on behalf of his party, reiterating support for him.

Earlier, the provincial cabinet approved establishment of 8,740-acre national park at Kheri Murat (near Fateh Jang) and another park on 38,874 acres at Pabbi near Kharian. The Lal Suhanra National Park near Bahawalpur will also be expanded with an added area of 162,567 acres.

The meeting also approved expanding the scope of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) to the whole of the province, along with giving in-principle approval to renaming it as the Walled City and Heritage Area Authority Punjab.

Probation of Offenders Amendment Act, 2020 was approved along with Punjab Payroll Act, 2020 and Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Probational Release Amendment Act, 2020.

Approval in the rules and regulations of Mines and Oilfields and Mineral Development (Government Control) Act, 1948 was also given.

Similarly, signing of MoU between the Chinese city of Qingdao and Faisalabad Municipal Corporation Administration was approved for bilateral exchange of delegations.

Meanwhile, the cabinet approved amendments in section 6 of PEPRA Act, 2009 along with the amendments in rules 12 and 59 of the Punjab Procurement Rules, 2014 (Amended 2019).

The constitution of a committee under the finance minister for appointment of permanent head of Punjab Provincial Cooperatives Bank was approved along with matters pertaining to the appointment of officers for local governments.

The meeting also approved a draft law for tabling a resolution in the Punjab Assembly relating toNamoos-e-Risalat (PBUH).

Similarly, approval was granted to scrap the requirement of Rs100 stamp paper on the sale of registered motor cars and transfer of registration under article 23 (C) of schedule 1 of Stamp Act, 1899.

The proceedings of 30th and 31st cabinet meetings were endorsed along with the approval of decisions made in the 27th meeting of the standing cabinet committee for legislation.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2020