LAHORE: Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Tuesday promised to introduce a relief package for the people of Punjab wherein the ban on recruitments would be lifted, doctors and teachers’ salaries would be increased and special persons would be accommodated.

Addressing the Punjab Assembly session after passing the prohibition of interest bill on private loans and the Punjab privileges (repeal and revival) bill, he said time has come when the nation, which suffered a lot at the hands of PML-N, should be given relief.

“The PML-N banned recruitments but it is the PTI government that is going to lift it in coming days. Emergency wards in hospitals would be upgraded and salaries of those doctors, who served in those emergency wards, would be increased by three per cent. The visually impaired persons, whom the PML-N treated with an iron hand, will be fully accommodated. It is regrettable that they were baton-charged by the PML-N government although they were not able to see the very baton beating them. Similarly, the salaries of the teachers would be increased and MPAs would be given funds for development projects in their respective constituencies which had been deprived in the PML-N’s regime,” he said.

CM promises to lift ban on recruitments and provide relief package

At a point CM Elahi told the MPAs: “You people just point out things and we would respond as giving relief to the poor and needy masses is our prime priority.”

The CM also took the occasion to praise former prime minister Imran Khan, saying that history would remember him in remarkable words for his contribution to the service of Islam by making it a part of curriculum.

The PA also passed two resolutions demanding strict action against federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Atta Tarar who “showed cruelty on May 25 azadi march to Islamabad” and another one demanding quashing of FIR registered against Shehbaz Gill and condemning physical and mental torture inflicted on him.

The assembly also passed “Punjab prohibition of interest on private loans bill 2022,” which states no money lender either individually or in group of persons shall lend money for any moveable or immoveable good or in kind or any other purpose or advance loan to pay person for the purpose of receiving interest thereon, nor shall carry on an interest-based transaction in the province.

Whoever contravenes the provision of the sub-section (1) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description which may extend to 10 years but shall not be less than three years and shall also be liable to fine not exceeding Rs1 million.

Whoever intentionally and willfully abets, engages, assists or aids the money lender in lending money or in recovery of the interest or in interest-based transaction in contravention of sub section (1) of section 3 shall also be liable to the same punishment as provided in sub section (2) of the section 3 of this Act.

Later, the house was adjourned for Wednesday (today) afternoon.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2022