LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that fully empowered secretaries of various departments will soon be posted to the south Punjab secretariat.

He said these officials would be given administrative and financial autonomy to deal with affairs related to Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions.

The chief minister stated this during a meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who called on him at his office on Saturday.

Mr Qureshi was accompanied by provincial minister Dr Mohammad Akhtar from Multan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Chief Whip in Natio­nal Assembly Aamir Dogar and MNA Zain Qureshi. The principal secretary to the CM and other officials concerned were also present.

Mr Buzdar gave approval to the setting up of 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Multan, saying the hospital would be established in the old building of Ghalla Mandi. The chief minister also directed the officials to resolve the issues related to the Water and Sanitation Agency immediately.

Mr Qureshi said the esta­blishment of the south Pun­jab Secretariat would bring relief to people who had to travel to Lahore for the resolution of their problems.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2020