Lahore – Important decisions for farmers were approved in the 25th meeting of the provincial cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz. The meeting expressed grief and offered Fateha on the death of Provincial Minister Sohaib Bharath’s uncle and Member of Punjab Assembly Arshad Warraich. The provincial cabinet congratulated Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on her successful visit to Turkey. The cabinet commended Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision for girls’ education. The meeting approved an amendment to the Food Grains (Licensing Control) Ordinance, 1957 to ensure 25% wheat purchase for flour mills, under which the licenses of flour mills that do not purchase 25% mandatory wheat can be canceled. Deregulation of the wheat sector was approved to protect the rights of wheat farmers. (EWR) The proposal for the implementation of the Electronic Warehouse Reset System was approved, which will facilitate farmers to store their wheat and the government will bear the storage costs.
The cabinet meeting took a decision in principle to introduce Pakistan’s largest ration card for 1.5 million workers, laborers and labourers. It was agreed to provide Rs 10,000 monthly assistance to workers through ration cards. Important decisions were also taken for rice farmers in Punjab with the efforts of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The cabinet approved an MoU between Rice Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China and Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad. The Chinese institution will assist in introducing hybrid rice seeds in Punjab.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that the benefits of agricultural research should reach the farmers directly. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered immediate payment of dues of water supply schemes.
The meeting approved amendments to the rules and regulations of the Children’s Library Complex Lahore. Pakistan’s first Nawaz Sharif Early Education Center of Excellence will be established in the Children’s Library Complex. The cabinet approved the operation of eco-friendly electric buses in various cities of Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also ordered the start of electric bus service in Rajanpur. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the capacity building of WASA and Parks and Horticulture Authority. The meeting approved the feasibility study of mass transit system in Faisalabad under the vision T-30 of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Feasibility studies of mass transit systems of Yellow, Blue and Purple lines in Lahore were approved under the vision T-30 of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Feasibility study of mass transit system in Gujranwala was approved under the vision T-30 of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 to regulate rickshaws in Punjab. Additional funds were approved for payment of dues for the purchase of medicines and drugs. Funds were approved for the purchase of furniture and equipment for tertiary care hospitals in Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered to provide the required funds for the purchase of furniture and medical equipment in hospitals. The cabinet approved the proposed amendments to the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005, under which additional sessions judges will be given the powers of consumer courts. The draft of the Punjab Labor Code 2024 was approved, which will also include workers from construction, agriculture and other sectors.
The meeting approved relaxation of restrictions on recruitment in the Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB). Recruitment in the Punjab Public-Private Partnership Authority (P4A) was approved. The extension of the contract of the employees of the Office of the Chief Drugs Controller, Provincial Quality Control Board Lahore was approved. The cabinet approved the change in status of 97 posts approved for “Establishment of Meter Testing Lab and Additional Electric Inspector Offices” and the purchase of 07 vehicles. Relaxation in the rules and regulations for the appointment of teachers regarding the acquisition of B.Ed professional qualification was approved. Notification for the appointment of inspectors under the Punjab Minimum Wages Act 2019 was approved. Harmonization of the regulatory framework for the minerals sector – Mines and Minerals Act 2025 was approved. The meeting approved the proposed amendments to the Punjab Employees Social Security Ordinance 1965 to expand the scope of the social security scheme. The proposed bill regarding the establishment of a “Center of Excellence” for the prevention of extremism was approved. The cabinet approved the provision of 30,000 acres of agricultural land for the families of martyrs, injured and other deserving military personnel. The meeting approved the proposed amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 as the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2025. The cabinet approved ex-gratia assistance to the families of those martyred in a terrorist attack in Balochistan. The proposed amendment to the Provincial Workers Social Security Ordinance, 1965 was approved. Amendments to the Punjab Workers Welfare Fund Act, 2019 and the Companies Profits (Workers Participation) Amendment Act, 2021 were approved. The establishment of a new affiliated institution “Climate Policy and Technology Center (CPTC)” was approved by merging the Environment Policy Center (EPC) and the Environment Technology Center (ETC).
