ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said the government had decided to table a bill in the National Assembly for creating south Punjab province.
“The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, in accordance with the manifesto of the government,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi said while addressing a news conference along Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan in front of the Parliament House in Islamabad.
The foreign minister expressed the hope that other political parties will support the bill keeping in view their stance for giving rights to the people of southern Punjab.
“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will talk to the opposition parties for consensus on creation of the south Punjab province,” he said adding that a two-third’s majority would be required for the amendment, and for the purpose, a political consensus would be built.
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FM Qureshi said the meeting also decided to set up a secretariat for southern Punjab for solving people’s problems at their door steps. He said 3.5 billion rupees and 1350 additional pots will be required for establishing a separate secretariat for South Punjab. However, next month, an additional chief secretary and an additional inspector general of police for Southern Punjab will start working. He said one of them will have his office in Multan while the other’s office will be set up in Bahawalpur.
“It is a historic development as practical steps towards realization of the PTI’s promise to the people of South Punjab have been started,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.
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