It also approved creation of communication wing in school education department as a pilot project and the International Sikh Convention to be held in the Governor House.
The approval was given in the 14th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Development which was chaired by the Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakhat. The meeting was attended by Punjab Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Minister Mian Mehood-ur-rashid, Punjab Industry and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Punjab School Education Minister Murad Rass and secretaries of department concern.
The meeting also approved commercialization of plots through Punjab Housing and Town Planning Authority, and Housing and Public Protection, repair work of water and sanitation in Talgang city, and appointments in Punjab Information Commission. The meeting also discussed funding procedure for Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, and improvement in working of WASA. It also approved urgent bailout package for WASA Faisalabad.
While addressing the meeting, the Finance Minister made it clear that it would be the last bailout package for any WASA authority as in future all WASA authorities have to improve their performance and generate indigenous resources. He said creation of communication wing in school education department has been started on pilot project basis and in case of success it will be replicated in all social sector departments for effective communications. "The wing will not only publicize the government work in the school education but also create awareness among the public for child health, nutrition requirements, precautionary measures from disease and other issues," he added.
Earlier, chairing the maiden meeting of the Provincial Finance Commission (PFC), Hashim Jawan Bakhat said that the government will review the interim PFC award before creation of the new PFC under the new Local Government Act 2019. He said that they are updating latest information about the union council limitations, distribution of population, poverty, literacy and others before creation of the new PFC Award. He instructed the Punjab Local Government Secretary to provide updated information on these parameters before the finalization of a new formula for the next PFC award.