The Punjab cabinet has given final approval to the arrangements and security plan for free, transparent, impartial and peaceful conduct of general elections in the province. The cabinet has also given approval to reducing entertainment tax and tax exemption for circus for providing recreational facilities to the citizens. The cabinet also approved up-gradation of Fatima Jinnah Medical College to the level of Fatima Jinnah Medical University and a short-term plan for improving efficiency of WASA. The cabinet meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister Najam Sethi, was attended by provincial minister, Advisor on Taxation & Revenue, Chief Secretary Punjab, secretaries of various departments and Advocate General Punjab. The meeting also reviewed Punjab Freedom of Information Act 2013, Noor International University Lahore Act 2013, Punjab Senior Citizen Welfare Ordinance 2013 and measures for recovery of general sales tax from restaurants.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Najam Sethi said that arrangements have been finalized for transparent and peaceful conduct of general elections while security arrangements have also been completed for enabling the voters to exercise their right of franchise in a peaceful atmosphere. He said that effective security arrangements will be made at every polling station so that law and order is maintained. He said that control rooms have been set up at the offices of all Divisional Commissioners and District Coordination Officers. The Chief Minister directed that maximum facilities should be provided to representatives of national and international media for the coverage of elections at divisional and district levels. He said that a plan has been evolved for the safe transportation of election staff, ballot papers and other election material to the polling stations on the elections day and police officials have been assigned this responsibility. He said that there is a complete ban on carrying of mobile phones by voters into the polling stations and directed that this restriction should be strictly enforced. He said that no one will be allowed to disrupt electoral process and directed that a peaceful atmosphere should be maintained at every polling station to enable the voters to freely exercise their right of franchise. The Chief Minister further directed that implementation of the code of conduct should be ensured and action should be taken against the violators without any discrimination. He further said that Punjab Election Coordination Committee has been constituted at the provincial level which is constant contact with the concerned officers at divisional and district levels. He further issued instructions for making special security arrangements at sensitive polling stations. Najam Sethi said that provision of security to the leaders of political parties is the duty of the government and it will perform all its responsibilities in this regard. He further directed that concerned officers at the district and divisional level should maintain contact with the leaders of political parties. He said that generators, emergency lights and gas lamps should be arranged at the polling stations on May 11 so that process of counting of votes is not disrupted by load-shedding. He said that drinking water and other facilities should also be provided to the voters at polling stations.
Chief Minister Najam Sethi further said that in order to provide maximum recreational facilities to the masses, decision has been taken to reduce entertainment tax while circus has been exempted from tax as it is a cheap source of entertainment to the people. He said that access to information is the right of the citizens and Punjab Freedom of Information Act 2013 is of vital importance in this regard. He directed that Punjab Freedom of Information Act should be reviewed in detail and a report be submitted in the next meeting. He said that provision of facilities to senior citizens is the responsibility of the state. In order to provide final shape to the Punjab Senior Citizen Welfare Ordinance 2013, the Chief Minister formed a committee headed by Provincial Minister for Tourism which will submit recommendations for facilitating and protecting the rights of senior citizens. The Chief Minister directed to finalize the draft law of up-gradation of Fatima Jinnah Medical College to the level of Fatima Jinnah Medical University. Provincial Minister for Food Qaiser Zulfiqar Khan informed the meeting about the pace of progress of the wheat procurement campaign. Secretary Implementation briefed the meeting on arrangements and security plan for general elections in the province. Secretary Housing informed the cabinet about the measures for improving efficiency of WASA, Secretary Finance about recovery of general sales tax from restaurants, Secretary Health about up-gradation of Fatima Jinnah Medical College to university level, Secretary Higher Education about Noor International University Lahore Act 2013 and Secretary Excise & Taxation about reduction in entertainment tax.