–Punjab CM approves ToRs of council

LAHORE: Punjab government on Friday notified the formation of the Executive Council on Creation of South Punjab, headed by former National Assembly member Chaudhry Tahir Bashir Cheema.

According to a notification issued here, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Mohammad Mazari has been made the convener of the council that also includes former and incumbent lawmakers, an agriculturist and ex-civil servants.

MPAs Samiullah Chaudhry, Sahibzada Muhammad Gazain Abbasi, Syed Ali Abbas Shah, Sardar Sahabudin Khan Seehar, Sardar Javed Akhtar Khan Lund and Nawabzada Mansoor Ahmad Khan have been inducted to the council besides ex-MNA Dr Mina Ehsan Leghari

Agriculturist Sardar Ali Raza Derashik and three former civil servants, namely Anwar A Khan, Javed Iqbal Awan and Athar Hussain Khan are also a part of South Punjab creation council.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has also given an approval for the terms of reference (ToRs) of the executive council, the mandate of which is to legislate measures for the separate province.

South Punjab Executive Council Secretariat has also been established at the Chief Minister’s Office in Lahore.

“The council, in pursuance of the TORs, shall seek institutional support, information and expert advice through any provincial department, public sector organization or local government in Punjab,” states the notification.

It merits a mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan, earlier this month, had approved the formation of the council.