The Punjab cabinet, which met with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in the chair on Tuesday, agreed to consult members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) in matters such as wheat purchase, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The meeting also formed a four-member ministerial committee, headed by the provincial minister for food, to formulate policies regarding the purchase of wheat.

Other members of the committee are the minister for finance, the minister for agriculture, and the minister for information.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that there was a need to first determine the requirements for a crop before starting its cultivation.

She directed that artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies be used in order to determine the requirements for a crop.

CM Maryam also ordered the start of the campaign to motivate bike riders to install safety guards on their bikes in order to protect themselves from metallic strings.  

She said she was saddened by the loss of lives of Christian workers, and added that legislation would be done in future to ensure the protection of lives of sanitary workers.    

The meeting agreed on the proposal to declare Easter a holiday for the Christian employees.

The meeting also agreed on the installation of cameras inside the examination halls and the use of AI to check cheating in exams.

The chief minister directed the ministers, deputy commissioners and other concerned officials to visit examination halls in order to keep an eye on cheaters.

The meeting approved forwarding the recommendation to the federal government to award Quaid-e-Azam Police medals to ASP Syeda Shehrbano Naqvi and SDPO Gulberg. “There is a need to encourage those police officers who are honest and professional,” CM Maryam said.

Similarly, approval was given for an extension in the contract period of the employees of Excise & Taxation and Narcotics and Dealer Vehicle Registration System Control Department.   

The chief minister directed that a comprehensive contract policy be formulated.  

Provincial ministers, secretaries and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad Hussain