PTI to table bill for creation of South Punjab province: FM Qureshi
Statesman Report
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced on Wednesday that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will table a bill in the National Assembly for the creation of the South Punjab province.
Qureshi announced at a press conference after Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting regarding South Punjab.
While making the announcement Qureshi congratulated the people of South Punjab for their sacrifices and said that a final look for the province was now becoming a reality.
The foreign minister shared that 35% of Punjab’s budget will be set aside for South Punjab. He added that in the past the funds for the region were promised but not allocated.
“Now a strategy has been formulated for the protection of the funds so they can be released at once,” said Qureshi.
He also shared that in April an additional chief secretary and an additional inspector general of police of south would be appointed. He added that one official will set up his/her office in Multan, while the other will set up an office in Bahawalpur.
“The decision has also been taken to set up a South Punjab secretariat,” said Qureshi, adding that Rs3.5 billion has been allocated for the secretariat. He added that adequate measures are being taken to fulfil the promise of a South Punjab province.
Qureshi, while making a case for South Punjab, said that once a province has been created then it will also get its share from the National Finance Commission Award.
The PTI leader also shared that PM Imran has called a meeting of the parliamentary party on Thursday to take them into confidence on the issue. The minister also said that the ruling party will start reaching out to other political parties in this regard as well.
“Right now, no party has a two-thirds majority in Parliament,” said Qureshi. He also hoped that Pakistan Peoples Party would throw its support behind the bill. He also urged PML-N leaders in the Senate and NA to convince their leadership to support the bill.