LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has formed a committee headed by law and cooperatives minister Basharat Raja to expedite the implementation of Punjab Aab-i-Pak Authority (PAPA) projects.

The committee has also been tasked to acquire Punjab Saaf Pani Company assets among other key issues.

The notification issued by the Governor Secretariat says the committee comprises PAPA Chairman Dr Shakeel A. Khan, PAPA CEO Syed Zahid Aziz, PSPC CEO Salman Yusuf and nominees of secretaries of finance, HUD&PHE and P&D.

The committee will be required to resolve all the issues in connection with acquisition of PSPC assets by PAPA such as transfer of assets, vehicles, feasibility and study and other reports of defunct Punjab Saaf Pani Company to the PAPA. The committee will remove obstacles being faced by ongoing projects, assist in speedy resolution of issues such as PC-I approval, funding and legislation.

Authority to acquire Saaf Pani company assets

Mr Raja says the first meeting of the committee would soon be convened and the efforts to remove complications in providing clean drinking water to every citizen of the province would be made effective.

BRITISH HC: Political counsellor for British High Commission, Islamabad, Ms Iona Thomas called on Law and Cooperatives Minister Basharat Raja in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday. They discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest between the UK and the Punjab government.

Mr Raja said the Punjab government was taking steps for the protection and development of minorities as significant increases had been made in the recent budget for churches and other minorities worship places in Punjab.

He said the Punjab government was ensuring implementation of all points of FATF and had successfully handled high-profile cases of terrorism by implementing federal policies against extremism and sectarianism to the maximum.

Ms Iona Thomas lauded Pakistan’s efforts for FATF and said the UK had pledged its full support to Pakistan. She paid homage to the Quaid-i-Azam and said he always emphasised the rights of minorities.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2021