CM to contact PM to ensure availability of fertilizer

LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has decided to contact Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar to ensure availability of urea fertiliser in Punjab.

CM Mohsin Naqvi presided over a special meeting in which matters relating to wheat cultivation and availability of urea were reviewed. It was informed during the meeting that wheat cultivation per maund target can be affected due to urea shortage. 

CM in a special meeting directed the Commissioners on the App to ensure transportation of urea in the relevant districts. It was decided to take up all the administrative steps so as to ensure availability of urea fertiliser. It was also decided during the meeting to contact the urea manufacturing companies and the dealers. A meeting of urea manufacturing companies and dealers has also been summoned. Naqvi directed to ensure safeguarding the rights of farmers. Secretary Agriculture Nadir Chattha while giving a briefing in the meeting apprised that the wheat sowing target on 01 crore 60 lakh acres of land has been attained in Punjab. Further wheat sowing on 06 lakh acres of land will be done exceeding its target. The wheat production is expected up to 30-34 maund per acre of land across Punjab. A better wheat production is expected due to timely wheat sowing along with 52 percent increase in the usage of DAP. 20 percent increase has occurred in the usage of authenticated seed in Punjab.

ACS, Chairman P&D, Secretaries of Agriculture, Irrigation, Food, Information, Commissioner Lahore and concerned officers of Agriculture department attended the meeting. Provincial Minister for Agriculture SM Tanveer and all Divisional Commissioners participated in the meeting via video link.

Meanwhile, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has launched a plan to make the provincial capital a dust-free city under which 79 roads would be made dust-free for reduction in environmental pollution in Lahore.

He formally launched washing programme of the roads and boulevards of the city and monitored washing process at the Jail Road, here on Saturday. Mohsin Naqvi monitored the road washing process through the mechanical washers, sweepers and tractor sweepers and ordered not to wash roads at noon time and in the evening to ensure smooth traffic flow.

He ordered to expedite enforcement actions against those involved in doing illegal dumping of debris at the edge of roads. Lahore Waster Management Company (LWMC) CEO Babar Sahibdin gave a briefing about 79 roads washing programme.

The CM was informed during the briefing that 18 mechanical washers, 12 mechanical sweepers and 40 tractor sweepers were taking part in the washing process. The teams were working actively in three shifts to dispose of construction and demolition material along with garbage. All the points would be turned into zero waste in coming 48 hours. Later, talking to the media, the CM stated that authorities were worried due to smog situation as Lahore was the most polluted city of the world, adding that schools and educational institutions could not be closed due to examinations. The winter vacations would commence from Dec 18, he said.

"There is no possibility of any rain but we are striving at our own level" he said and added that smog level increases due to dust and traffic.

He said that LWMC would wash 79 roads to reduce dust in the city and those roads would be washed on preferential basis where their was more dust.

The roads would be washed twice a week on the pattern of Saudi Arabia, he added.

Dust cannot be eliminated by mere spray of water and citizens should also make their houses dust free, he said.

"We are determined to make Lahore dust free completely".

Hopefully, smog would be reduced with the reduction of dust through washing.

CM apprised that a team comprises 100 workers and 04 teams have become proactive to wash the roads.

The washing of roads would be done at night time so as to save people from inconvenience.

The washing work would be completed from 8 pm till 6 ''O clock in the morning.

Lahore Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, DG PHA and officials concerned were present.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi visited Police Khidmat Markaz Liberty late at night. There was a rush of people for obtaining their driving licences and the system was working slow.

The citizens heaped a pile of complaints before CM Mohsin Naqvi with regard to waiting for long hours in order to obtain a driving license. CM met with the citizens present inside and outside the Khidmat Markaz and inquired from them one by one about acquiring a driving license.

The citizens taking their driving tests also made complaints for waiting for many hours in order to take their driving test. CM by taking a prompt notice of the situation, telephoned DG PITB on the spot and directed him to streamline the system along with sending a team to the Khidmat Markaz on an emergency basis.

Mohsin Naqvi announced on the spot that a citizen bearing a token for obtaining a driving license will not be challaned in next three days.

CM assured the citizens to redress their complaints forthwith with regard to occurrence of delay. The citizens took personal interest in getting the driving license issue resolved and thanked CM Mohsin Naqvi in this regard.

CM directed the staff members present at the Khidmat Markaz that no delay should occur in obtaining a driving license adding that obtaining the driving license process should be completed at the earliest.

Mohsin Naqvi directed to streamline the system along with making it fast track for the citizens taking their sign test.CM asserted that no undue delay would be tolerated in the licence obtaining process.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Iraq Hamid Abbas Lafta met with the Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi in which matters pertaining to mutual interest as well as promoting bilateral relations were discussed.

Matters relating to religious tourism and promotion of culture also came under discussion. CM Mohsin Naqvi while talking with the Iraqi Ambassador stated that Pakistan enjoys long-term brotherly relations with Iraq. The relationship of attachment, love and sincerity prevail between the people of Pakistan and Iraq. There is a great potential of religious tourism between the two countries. CM apprised that the Punjab government has provided a conducive and favourable environment for the investment.

A Facilitation Center has been established for the investment in Lahore. 20 federal and provincial departments are available Under One Roof in the Facilitation Centre. 106 NOCs for the foreign investors will be issued in two weeks. Mohsin Naqvi informed that such centres in Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala and other big cities will become functional in one month. CM underlined that there is a need to undertake swift measures for the promotion of religious tourism between Iraq and Punjab.

The Iraqi Ambassador acknowledged that CM Mohsin Naqvi is rendering appreciable services for the promotion of religious tourism adding that they want to fully benefit from the current investment opportunities in Punjab along with further strengthening bilateral fraternal relations.