LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Local Government Raja Basharat has directed the revenue officers to identify and report the benami properties within their jurisdiction across the province particularly pressing the respective patwaris hard for the purpose.

He was presiding over a meeting on law and order at civil secretariat on Thursday, says a handout.

Chief Secretary Yousaf Naeem Khokhar, Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz and other officers attended the meeting while divisional commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) briefed the chair through video conferencing.

The CS briefed the minister about the efforts being made to control prices of commodities while the IGP deliberated on law and order situation in Punjab. Raja Basharat directed the law enforcers to keep a vigil on the aerial firing, exhibition of arms and use of prohibited weapons.

The law minister said: “It is very necessary to give relief to commoners by controlling prices of daily-use commodities for which the local administration should obtain cooperation of the local traders, retailers, manufacturers, chambers of commerce and industries and civil society.”

Minister Basharat briefed about steps to control prices

He stressed that the role of market committees to control prices of food items was vital that could be enhanced through reshuffling of the staff.

The minister directed all local bodies to remove encroachments that caused public roads and streets narrower. He also stressed the district administrations to check the leases of state land awarded to certain ‘blue-eyed persons’ since long.

The chair expressed displeasure over the fact that a large number of legal advisers deputed to public departments and organisations in Punjab were allowed to continue with their jobs for years. Raja advised the authorities to fill such posts purely on merit and according to the approved procedure.

He assured that the government believed in transparency and would exert no political pressure to the effect.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2019