1.5m families to get ration cards: Azma

LAHORE:Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the Punjab government is continuously working for public relief and the provincial cabinet has decided to provide ration cards to 1.5 million families. She emphasised that due to the efforts of the Prime Minister’s team, inflation has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years, proving the effectiveness of the government’s policies. She also prayed for the alleviation of the hardships of the Pakistani people on the occasion of last Friday of Ramazan.

Azma Bokhari expressed these views while addressing the media at DGPR alongside the CM’s Special Assistant (SACM) on Price Control Salma Butt on Friday. Azma stated that the Punjab government has worked hard to control food prices. High-quality goods are being ensured in Ramazan and relief markets to provide maximum relief to the people. The chief minister praised Salma Butt’s performance in the cabinet meeting and expressed satisfaction with public welfare initiatives.

Azma revealed that 120 agenda items were approved in the last cabinet meeting, making it the longest agenda in cabinet history. Modern systems are being introduced in Punjab to control crime. An air ambulance system is being established in Bhakkar, while a crime control system will be activated throughout the province.

A special investigation unit is being set up to prevent sexual crimes, which will make investigations more swift, she elaborated. The minister stated that the CM personally reviewed the arrest of a suspect in Faisalabad and instructed authorities to quickly apprehend other fugitives. She made it clear that Punjab now conducts investigations on scientific grounds, ensuring suspects are arrested within hours. The CM has unequivocally stated that crimes against women will not be tolerated.

She said that terrorists infiltrating Balochistan and other provinces are operating from outside. This is not a war between Balochistan and Punjab but a war for Pakistan’s security. "We do not want provincial conflicts, but Punjabi labourers are being identified by their ID cards and killed in Balochistan. So-called YouTubers and Mahrang Lango are silent on the current situation in Balochistan. They do not see Punjabi labourers being martyred. For God's sake, think as Pakistanis. A YouTuber’s tweet and an Indian journalist’s tweet look identical. We must address this as a state."

SACM for Price Control Salma Butt stated that under the "Ramazan Nigehban" package, financial assistance is being provided to the families of deceased through pay orders. She mentioned that due to the lack of biometric verification, 300,000 senior citizens are being provided assistance via SMS services to ease their difficulties.