THE NEWS

Punjab cabinet approves amendments to LG Ordinance, Revenue Act

our correspondent
Wednesday, March 09, 2011

LAHORE: The provincial cabinet on Tuesday approved amendments to the Local Government Ordinance 2001 and Revenue Act 1967 through which revenue office of district government system will be taken out from the purview of the district government and made a non-devolved subject to be administered by the provincial government.

The cabinet approved amendments through which the post of EDO (Revenue) will be abolished after passage from the provincial assembly. The powers of EDO (R) will be transferred to the divisional commissioner. It has also been decided to re-designate the post of deputy district officer (Revenue) as assistant commissioner. The district officer (Revenue) would be re-named as district collector.

Likewise, the provincial cabinet has also approved the abolition of the posts of EDOs Information Technology, Literacy and Law. The abolition of the posts is part of process of right-sizing of the government machinery. Earlier, the government merged six departments and wings in other departments.

With Punjab Chief Minister in the chair, the provincial cabinet in a meeting, held at the Chief Ministerís Secretariat, approved the drafts of 17 amendment bills regarding the Punjab Government Rules of Business-2011 and running of the affairs of Local Government, Information, Culture & Youth Affairs, Revenue, Labour, Health, Law and Social Welfare departments recently transferred to the provinces in the wake of 18th constitutional amendment.

The amendment bills will be presented before the provincial assembly for final approval. Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued instructions to set up a cabinet committee for strict implementation of law about minimum wages in the light of the Supreme Court orders. The committee will submit its recommendations after considering various aspects of the matter.

The meeting also reviewed law and order situation in the province besides taking important decisions for computerization of examination system and immediate removal of the flaws in this regard.

It was decided in the meeting that provincial secretaries will pay regular visits to districts for solution of people’s problems besides improving efficiency of their departments and monitoring the performance of their officers.

The CM said that examination system had been computerized in the province for the first time in the country to ensure transparency. He said that computerization of examination system was a revolutionary step. However, he added, some flaws had been detected at the initial stages of online system. He said a separate exam would be held for such students to compensate their loss.