Interim Chief Minister Punjab Dr. Hasan Askari visited the Child Protection and welfare Bureau on the Eid day and spent time with destitute children. He cut a cake and gave gifts to the children. He visited the hostel of the bureau and reviewed the facilities being provided to the children. Speaking on the occasion, he said he is extremely pleased to visit this place and this is the mega project of welfare of the destitute and deprived children and such institution should make special focus on education and training of the children. He said the character building of destitute children is the national responsibility and we should all play our role in this regard. Later talking to the media, Interim CM Punjab Dr. Hasan Askari said he is happy tocelebrate Eid with destitute children. Today is holiday but I am doing my duty and you are also discharging your responsibility. I belong to media and education sectors where I will return after completing this responsibility. He said the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau is doing a wonderful job and training and education of destitute children is the process of the national building. Such children can be made important member of society through education and training. He said parents are responsible for education and training of the children but training and education of destitute children is the responsibility of the state and the Punjab government has provided cooperation for this purpose in the past and it will continue doing it in the future. He said the interim government has limited mandate and in this mandate we will take measures for welfare of the common man. He said the interim government has formed cabinet consisting of 10 ministers and there is still room for two to three ministers as the Punjab government has 43 departments and related institutions. It is not possible for the interim government to form policies and act like an elected government therefore we have formed small cabinet in which a single minister has been several portfolios. We do not need more ministers because we will go back after holding fair and free elections.
The interim government will be judged through its performance and we will do our best to provide relief to the common man. The constitution and law have determined the boundaries of the interim government and we will work in this framework. Our basic responsibility is to provide facilities for fair and free elections according to the directions of the Election Commission. Second responsibility of the interim government is to discharge routine administrative work, while third responsibility is to take measures for welfare of the people which we will also do. The interim government cannot make long term policy. The interim government will neither make long term policy nor will stop any project. The projects which are running will continue working. The interim government need cooperation of media for the holding of free and fair elections. We will make every possible measure for free and fair elections and top level administrative changes have been made, while more administrative changes will made after the approval of the Election Commission. We will do every step within legal boundary. We will not give new policy because this is not our mandate. We will move policies which are already running and will try to improve them. To a question, he said he has personally done reporting of the elections and entry to polling station is restricted however, he will talk to the information minister to seek guidelines from the Election Commission in this regard and we will take measures in this framework. He said chief secretaries and IGs of all four provinces have been changed and these changes were done with consultation and changes in future will also be done with consultation however approval of the Election Commission will be sought. He said some more changes will be made because chief secretaries and IGs have assumed charges and we trying to make neutral administrative structure so that every party gets equal chances for participation.
Every complaint will be addressed instantly. To another question, he said interim government cannot be compared with elected government, but we will try to provide relief to the common man and take measures to reduce their problems. To a question about the Orange Line Train, the interim chief minister said projects which are running will not be stopped because this is the responsibility of the elected government, however, schools and hospitals whose structures have been completed from 80 to 90 per cent and which can be made operational then we will try that they are completed in this short time. Our performance will be judged by the media and the people and the performance of the interim government will be discussed when the term of the interim government will expire. To yet another question, he said professional experienced people have been inducted in the cabinet and all decisions will be done by interim ministers and they are fully empowered in this regard however mutual consultation will be made in this regard. Additional portfolios will be given to interim ministers.