Developed after 1985: Punjab katchi abadies to get proprietary rights

Punjab Chief Secretary Salman Siddique has said the residents of 385 katchi abadies developed throughout the province after 1985, would be given proprietary rights. He expressed these views while presiding over a high-level meeting of the DCOs from across the province here on Saturday, said an official.
The secretaries concerned, EDOs (health) of all the districts and the district monitoring officers also attended the meeting. The chief secretary said the government had allocated Rs 3 billion funds under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the development works in the katchi abadies so that civic amenities might be available to the residents.
He pointed out that 664,000 persons had been registered under the 'Income Support Programme' in the province while for the permanent rehabilitation of such persons, technical training programme in various departments of different technical institutions, would also be launched.
During the meeting, the project director, Education Sector Reforms Programme gave a detailed briefing regarding the schools, basic health units (BHUs) and rural health centers (RHCs).
He informed the meeting that with the exception of just a single RHC and 11 BHUs, the rest centers and units were functioning. The attendance of doctors and allied paramedical staff in these BHUs and RHCs was satisfactory side by side the provision of drugs there.
On this occasion, the NLC project director gave briefing regarding the ongoing projects of health ad education. The special Secretary (health) said that in order to make up the shortage of doctors and other paramedics at various hospitals and health centers, a regular programme for the recruitment of doctors and paramedics is being launched.
It was also informed in the meeting that the downpour in the current rainy season was likely to be a little more than as usual. Therefore the DCOs were asked to make necessary relief arrangements in their respective districts.
Reviewing the prices of various commodities in the meeting, it was informed that the prices of nine out of 19 consumer items remained the same during the last month whereas 10 commodities registered increase in their prices. The chief secretary directed to make all the necessary measures to keep the prices normal.