GUJRAT: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi may announce provision of solar panels to farmers as a cheap source of energy in a bid to boost rural economy across the province.

A senior PML-Q leader told Dawn here on Monday the coalition government would focus on relief for farmers on a war footing to strengthen political base in rural areas.

Sharing plans the coalition is discussing at the moment, he said some 10 to 12 ministers would be inducted into the Punjab cabinet in the first phase as per the direction of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. It can be expanded in next phases as some advisers and special assistants to the Punjab CM would also be inducted.

He said most of the ministers and advisers would be from PTI whereas two ministers could be from the Q. Portfolios like finance, health, education, law might go to the PTI.

Farmers may get solar panels, Lahore may have four dists, small cabinet in first phase

He said Chief Minister Elahi had suggested Mr Khan (during their meeting in Lahore on Sunday) some out-of-box solutions to improve the living of ordinary people through focus on improvement in rural economy so that instead of giving monthly stipends, people could be guided on ways and means to improve their earnings.

He said a mechanism for controlling prices of basic food commodities was also discussed in the meeting.

It is learnt that PTI leaders Shafqat Mehmood and Dr Shahbaz Gill also held a discussion with Moonis Elahi on the matter of cabinet formation as a follow-up meeting late on Sunday night after which the list of probables had to be sent to Mr Khan for his final approval.

A close aide to the Punjab CM said that Mr Elahi had already done a lot of homework for launching different initiatives. He said Punjab police would be given at least 300 to 400 new vehicles for patrolling and police stations whereas the Punjab highways patrolling police might also get at least 150 more patrolling posts across the province.

He said the incumbent IGP Faisal Shahkar had previously worked on the Punjab highway patrolling project during previous stint of Parvez Elahi as Punjab CM in 2002 to 2007 to improve the law and order.

He said the city of Lahore could be bifurcated into four districts and at least three to four new districts would also be created and chances of Gujrat district getting divisional headquarter status were now bright as the provincial board of revenue had been tasked to work expeditiously on the matter.

Similarly, he said the PTI-PML Q coalition had decided to establish a new international airport in Lahore as the existing airport might be utilised for domestic flights only.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2022