LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman unveiled initiatives to aid farmers and the families of deceased employees at the fourth session of the Standing Committee on Law and Privatization.
The minister announced the provision of interest-free loans to farmers throughout the crop season and committed to ensuring financial support for the families of deceased employees within three months.
Concerning housing schemes, the minister specified that while stamp duty exemption is not feasible, certain schemes for martyrs may qualify for exemption. Additionally, he instructed the Secretary of Primary and Secondary Healthcare to assess the benefits of the Chairperson of the Drug Courts in collaboration with the Secretaries of Finance and Law.
The meeting deliberated on a nine-point agenda, which encompassed matters such as implementing the Kissan Card scheme in collaboration with the Bank of Punjab, endorsing the Jalalpur Irrigation Project with Pakistan Railways, and making revisions to the Social Security Ordinance 1965 and the Punjab Heritage Act 2005.
The importance of tax payment was stressed by Zeshan Malik, the Minister for Local Government, who described it as a national responsibility. Sohaib, the Minister of Law, praised the proposed amendments to the Punjab Employees Social Security Institute for the establishment of a medical college in Faisalabad.
