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Govt taking steps to revive economy: Safdar

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The government is taking all steps for revival of economy, development of information technology and agriculture, provision of small credits and food stamp scheme for poverty alleviation.

This was stated by the Punjab Governor Muhammad Safdar, while talking to newsmen after seeing off first Haj flight at the Lahore Airport here on Saturday.

He said that Zakat committees had been reorganised and lists of deserving people were being compiled in this regard.

He said the Punjab Cabinet had reviewed various steps for the devolution of powers to the lower level. All the provincial governments were taking steps to hold local bodies election by the end of this year, he added.

Safdar said the federal government wanted to take provincial governments into confidence in formulating of its programmes for the welfare of the people.

The Punjab government has reviewed recommendations submitted by the committees to reform various departments.

The governor said that the previous government had given autonomy to some of the public hospitals and promulgated act in this regard, but rules and regulations regarding enforcement of the act were not formulated.

Earlier addressing the ceremony, the governor said the government in order to facilitate 105,000 people for performing Haj, has accepted their applications without balloting. He said that arrangements have been made for 24,586 Hajis from the Lahore Airport.