Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan also accompanied him at the news conference. Qureshi said that the prime minister had also called a meeting of the parliamentary party on Thursday to apprise, and take all members of the party into confidence about the decision to move the bill in the Lower House of the Parliament.

He said that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, some federal and provincial ministers from south Punjab, the Punjab chief secretary, and inspector general of police were present in the meeting.

Qureshi said that 35 percent fund of the Punjab's budget would be allocated for the new province, "South Punjab". He said that a Secretariat would be established for the new province and Rs 3.5 billion would be allocated for the purpose. Qureshi said that 1,350 posts would be created for appointments to the Secretariat.

He said, "the Punjab chief minister said in the meeting that in the upcoming budget - keeping the ratio of provincial population in mind - 35 percent of the resources will be allocated to South Punjab. This share will then not be re-appropriated or channelled to other areas. This has been happening in every previous year, funds are allocated for South Punjab, and then channelled to other areas as the year progressed - we have decided not to do that this year." The foreign minister said that the creation of infrastructure for a proper secretariat for the province would take some time however; additional chief secretary and an additional inspector general of police of South Punjab would be appointed in April.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020