No employee to be left without salary by Eid: Azma

LAHORE:Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has made it clear that those who do not align with the Chief Minister’s vision have no place in the department. Furthermore, she announced that by Eid-ul-Fitr, every employee would receive their salary. Azma made these remarks while speaking to media at Alhamra on Tuesday.

Regarding ongoing welfare projects in Punjab, Azma revealed that three million families are being provided with pay orders of Rs10,000 each with dignity, which is a historic initiative.

Discussing the cleanliness campaign, she said that the "Clean Punjab" project has been outsourced to various companies to ensure timely payment of salaries to employees. Every employee will receive their rightful pay before Eid-ul-Fitr. Azma stated that Punjab has no claim over Sindh’s water and that no one can interfere in Punjab’s water management.

She pointed out that the country is facing a severe water shortage, with Punjab’s water reserves decreasing by 41%. She urged Sindh and other provinces to focus on better water management. She highlighted that the current government is taking significant steps to promote fine arts.

The chief minister has given clear instructions to prioritise the development of arts and culture. She also mentioned that the Consul General of Turkiye visited Alhamra and highly-praised Pakistani paintings. Additionally, the Consul General assured that exhibitions of Pakistani young artists' paintings should be held in Turkiye.

Punjab, in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy, has decided to further strengthen cultural relations and formulate a joint strategy for culture, heritage, and the arts in the future. Under this partnership, various initiatives will be launched to promote cultural exchange, organise joint events, preserve historical heritage, and support the development of arts and literature.

Azma stated that significant progress is being made in various fields of fine arts, including music, painting, and drama. Students who completed three-month courses showcased their artistic talents through remarkable paintings. She announced that the winner of the singing competition, organised under the Punjab Arts Council, would be launched on a govt platform. Moreover, a Cultural Day will be celebrated at Alhamra on April 14 to promote cultural activities.