Caretaker Punjab cabinet holds meeting

LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab cabinet meeting was held at the Chief Minister's office here on Monday with Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Prof Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi in the chair.

The meeting expressed its strong commitment to ensure holding of free, fair and peaceful elections in the province.

Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Zahid Saeed gave a briefing on different matters pertaining to the government affairs, working of the public sector departments and their infrastructure.

The meeting was also apprised about rules of business. Caretaker ministers, Chief Secretary, IG Police and others attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the caretaker setup is meant for a limited period of time and its scope of work is also limited adding that fundamental responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold transparent and impartial elections.

He said we have to fulfill our responsibility of holding transparent elections in a specific period of time, he said, adding that facilities will be provided to ensure holding of free and fair elections under the instructions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Dr Askari said the administration has to fulfill its duties in a neutral way, stressing our time period is limited and we are desirous of doing some public welfare initiatives which could provide relief to the masses and the line departments will have to take the lead in this regard, he said.

The chief minister said his government wanted to set such examples to be emulated by the coming caretaker governments.

He said the ministers, administration as well as the police should be totally impartial and apolitical, adding that the ministers are part of my team and we have to work collectively.

He said the caretaker ministers were experts in their fields and highly capable.

He said the cabinet did not have any political agenda in the past nor will have in future.

He said responsibility of public welfare will be fulfilled in accordance with the limitations of a specific period of time and powers.