LAHORE, March 3: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that Punjab is willing to resolve all the matters, including water dispute, with other provinces in an amicable manner, says a handout.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Punjab cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali at the Governor’s House here on Monday. Governor Khalid Maqbool and federal ministers also participated in the meeting.

Mr Elahi said he wanted to resolve all the matters with the cooperation and under the patronage of the federal government.

“The PML-Q leadership is committed to take practical steps for the welfare of people and the country, instead of wasting time in politicizing these issues,” the chief minister added.

He apprised the participants about the priorities of the Punjab government regarding development projects. Free education up to matric level has been highly hailed by the people of the Punjab as well as other provinces, he maintained.

The government has taken revolutionary steps for the uplift of agriculture and reduced interest rate on loans, as well as fixed 12.5 acres of land as minimum limit for agriculture tax, he said.

Mr Elahi said he was not against the commission system, but the government would not hesitate to take steps to ensure rightful price to the farmers for their produce. Various steps were being taken to enforce effective marketing system, he added.

The chief minister gave the premier details of kidnap for ransom incidents and requested him for steps to check these incidents at federal level. The prime minister assured him that the government would take prompt action in this regard.

Referring to the measures in connection with the law and order during Muharram, Mr Elahi said peace committees had been formed at district level under the supervision of provincial ministers, which would formulate their strategy for ensuring peace with the cooperation of public representatives and district governments.

Regarding legislation, he said the Punjab Assembly had adopted seven bills within a period of two months and was making efforts to take opposition into confidence.