Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over the 25th provincial cabinet meeting, resulting in the approval of several key initiatives aimed at benefiting farmers and enhancing infrastructure. The meeting also paid respects to the late Arshad Warraich, a member of the Punjab Assembly.

The cabinet approved amendments to the Food Grains (Licensing Control) Ordinance, 1957, mandating wheat mills to procure 25 percent of their stock from local farmers. The deregulation of the wheat sector was also sanctioned to protect farmers’ rights. Additionally, the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System was introduced to enable farmers to store wheat at government expense.

A significant decision was made to launch Pakistan’s largest ration card initiative, providing Rs. 10,000 monthly to 1.5 million workers. An MoU with China’s Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences was approved to introduce hybrid rice seeds in Punjab.

The cabinet endorsed the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Early Education Centre of Excellence at Lahore’s Children’s Library Complex. The introduction of eco-friendly electric buses across Punjab and the initiation of a mass transit feasibility study in several cities were also approved under Chief Minister Sharif’s T-30 vision.

Further approvals included amendments to the Punjab Motor Vehicle Rules to regulate rickshaws, the Punjab Consumer Protection Act to empower consumer courts, and the Punjab Labour Code 2024 to encompass various worker sectors.

The cabinet sanctioned the relaxation of recruitment restrictions in several departments and approved the appointment of key positions across various offices. Amendments to facilitate regulatory frameworks in multiple sectors, including minerals and social security, were also passed.

Approval was granted for the construction of a hotel at Nishtar Park Sports Complex and the establishment of a Climate Policy and Technology Centre. The meeting also endorsed the computerization of police stations and various development schemes under the Chief Minister’s District SDGs Program.

Additional approvals included the transfer of funds to the Punjab Social Protection Authority, appointments in the LDA Tribunal and Anti-Corruption Court, and a supplementary grant for vehicle purchases in various departments. The meeting concluded with the endorsement of previous cabinet meeting minutes and audit reports.