LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet approved Rs2.6 billion for Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to spend the amount on the rehabilitation of flood affectees. It announced a reward of Rs50,000 each for rescue workers performing flood duties.

Besides these approvals, presiding over a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz discussed a total of 130 agenda items.

The meeting approved hiring of vice chancellors of universities in the province from the market with at least 80 per cent marks for the post.

The cabinet approved the provision of 1,220 flats to industrial workers in Punjab through balloting. It also approved to increase salary to Rs40,000 of workers in skilled, semi-skilled and other 102 categories.

It also approved official conduct of exams of grades V and VIII in Punjab, assessment of class V students and regular examination of class VIII students.

The cabinet approved life-long pension for employees’ widows.

The provincial cabinet gave approval to the draft of Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Rules, 2024 to prevent child labour, besides approving implementation of a uniform procedure for the appointment of treasurer, registrar and controller examinations in government and private institutions.

The cabinet was told that AI traffic management system would be implemented in Punjab within 90 days.

It was informed that 99 per cent recovery in the Kisan Card in phase 1 had been achieved.

“A sum of Rs93 billion has been released to 90,000 farmers, who used Rs47 billion for agricultural inputs. New tractor manufacturing factories will also be established under CM’s high-tech mechanisation.”

The cabinet approved an MoU between the Punjab government and Deer Foundation International and Houbara International Foundation. It gave approval of regulatory framework for the protection of local birds.

The provincial cabinet approved recruitment of constables in the Riot Management Police, besides recruitment on three new posts in Walled City Authority.

It also gave approval to relax restrictions for recruitment in Punjab Charities Commission.

The CM directed to scrutinise fake charities and submit a report after every four months.

The cabinet approved granting authority to approve PHATA’s budget to its governing body and the CM directed to clarify the monitoring procedure of PHATA.

It also approved extension of contracts of 31 employees of Multan Center for Combating Violence against Women, besides recruitment to 77 posts in Punjab Financial Advisory Services.

Provincial cabinet approved 86 posts of driver patrol assistants, besides 45 new posts in the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department. The cabinet gave approval to recruit on vacant posts of drivers in the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, besides appointment of 35 experts in Provincial and District Quality Control Board.

It also gave approved measures for leasing government land to telecom sector. Establishment of Sugarcane Research and Development Board Act, 2025 for research on sugarcane was also approved.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2025