As part of the process to transfer powers and institutions to the South Punjab Secretariat, a notification has been issued to hand over control of five companies of the Local Government Department to the new secretariat, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

The companies which were handed over to the South Punjab Secretariat included Cattle Market Management companies of Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan. Two other companies were Waste Management companies of Multan and Bahawalpur.

These above-said companies will report to Local Government Secretary South Punjab. Their financial and administrative affairs will be under the control of South Punjab Secretariat. 

A new seat of Director General Local Government and Community Development South Punjab has also been created.

Early in September, Prime Minister Imran Khan had decided to formally make South Punjab Secretariat operational on October 15. The prime minister announced this at a meeting on the establishment and working of the new secretariat. 

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, the chief secretary, additional chief secretary and the additional inspector general of South Punjab joined the meeting through video link.

According to the Prime Minister Office, Mr Khan emphasised that the government’s focus was on bringing about improvement to the life of the common man and directed the administration of South Punjab to work to fulfil this vision. 

He lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Buzdar and the Punjab government for the establishment of South Punjab Secretariat and said these solid steps reflected the PTI government’s will to implement the party’s manifesto in letter and spirit. 

The prime minister regretted that governments in the past had ignored genuine issues of the people of South Punjab. 

Stressing the need for the introduction of the provincial finance commission award, the prime minister said: “Separate allocation for South Punjab would usher in a new era of progress and prosperity.” 

He directed the authorities to complete the process of devolution of power phase-wise to ensure smooth running of administrative procedures. He asked them to keep him regularly updated on the progress of the working of the South Punjab Secretariat.