News
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Shahbaz wants national commission on new provinces* CM says just, uniform policy should be followed if new provinces needed
Staff Report
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday called for the formation of a national commission to review creation of new provinces, saying that if the division of provinces was inevitable, a just and uniform policy should be followed throughout the country.
The chief minister was talking to reporters after inaugurating the seasonal plantation campaign at canal near Johar Town.
Punjab Assembly Members Afzal Khokhar, Pervaiz Malik, Hafiz Mian Nauman, Shahista Pervaiz Malik, the Lahore district coordination officer and PHA director general were present on the occasion.
Shahbaz said the federal government has neither made any consultation regarding establishment of new provinces nor has it taken the Punjab government into confidence with regard to setting up of a commission for the division of Punjab.
The chief minister said that the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly regarding establishment of new provinces provides necessary guideline.
He said that there is no justification for holding a meeting of the commission on the division of Punjab alone as the provincial leadership has strong reservations about the commission set up by the federal government in this regard.
He said that a resolution for setting up new provinces and restoration of Bahawalpur province had been presented to the Punjab Assembly by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz itself.
He said if there is some justification for division on administrative grounds, it should be uniformly implemented throughout the country.
Earlier, the chief minister planted a sapling of mango in a greenbelt to inaugurate monsoon plantation campaign. He said more than 10,000 fruit saplings would be planted on both sides of the canal – from Thokar Niaz Beg to The Mall.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk