LAHORE: The Cabinet Committee on Legislative Business on Monday approved the draft law of Punjab Water Resources Commission in its meeting held at the Punjab Civil Secretariat.

The meeting presided over by law minister Basharat Raja was attended by housing minister Mahmoodur Rasheed, higher education minister Raja Yasir Humayun, sports and youth affairs minister Taimur Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary Yusouf Naseem Khokhar, senior member of Board of Revenue, law secretary, local government secretary and other officers concerned.

The proposed commission will regulate use of land and irrigation water as well as disposal of polluted and dirty water. The meeting gave a go ahead to a number of amendments to the Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority Act 2018 to make it more effective for the public.

The rate of Punjab sales tax on services has been reduced from 16 per cent to 15pc, extending its net to the oil tankers by approving amendment to the second Schedule of the Punjab Sales Tax on Services Act 2012.

The annual audit and performance reports of the Punjab Judicial Academy for 2015 and 2016 were approved, while a sub-committee was formed to review the proposed revised policies regarding lease of state lands.

This committee comprising secretaries of the departments concerned will meet on March 18 to further discuss the draft of amendments.

The archives department was directed to prepare a work plan for its recommendations regarding Majlis Zuban Daftri Punjab to propagate Urdu language in official correspondence, signage at public places and in the official ceremonies as well.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2019