Govt to move NA to create S. Punjab province: FM

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the government has decided to table a bill in the National Assembly for creating South Punjab province.
Addressing a news conference along with Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan in front of Parliament House on Wednesday, he said the decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The foreign minister expressed the hope that other political parties will support the bill keeping in view their stance for giving rights to the people of southern Punjab. He said two-thirds majority will be required for the amendment, and for the purpose, a political consensus will be built.
The foreign minister said the meeting also decided to set up a secretariat for southern Punjab for solving people’s problems at their door steps. He said 3.5 billion rupees and 1350 additional pots will be required for establishing a separate secretariat for South Punjab. However, next month, an additional chief secretary and an additional inspector general of police for Southern Punjab will start working. He said one of them will have his office in Multan while the other’s office will be set up in Bahawalpur.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it is a historic development as practical steps towards realization of the PTI’s promise to the people of South Punjab have been started.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting regarding South Punjab on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Minister of State Shabbir Ali Qureshi, Kashmir Committee Chairman Syed Fakhar Imam, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, provincial ministers, members of National Assembly and the provincial assembly belonging to southern Punjab attended the meeting. – TLTP