- Punjab CM vows protection of orphans, widows, and the poor from illegal occupation of their lands
- Says PERA Force to combat inflation, hoarding, profiteering, and encroachments across Punjab
- Wheat prices brought down from Rs4,100 to Rs3,100 with timely intervention, says chief minister
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping set of reforms aimed at eradicating land grabbing, curbing corruption, and strengthening governance across the province, announcing new legislation to protect the rights of orphans, widows, and the poor from illegal land occupations.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), the chief minister praised the PERA force, describing it as a frontline body against inflation, hoarding, encroachments, and lawlessness.
The proposed law will mandate that all land-grabbing cases should be decided within 90 days through newly established special courts. The legislation also carries strict punitive measures, including fines and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for offenders. “In Punjab, no one will be allowed to usurp the land of the weak and helpless. Where there is injustice, the government will stand with the victims and ensure the oppressors face the law,” CM Maryam declared in her address.
She administered an oath to its members, urging them to dedicate themselves to public service and renounce bribery. “I want the officers and personnel of PERA to make a solemn promise: consider bribe money forbidden, no matter how big the amount. Even a little halal earning carries blessings, while corruption brings only destruction,” she stressed.
The Punjab CM highlighted that PERA had already demonstrated its effectiveness. Referring to her recent trip abroad, she said she was in Tokyo when she received reports of rising wheat and flour prices. However, with PERA’s intervention and administrative action, the wheat rate dropped from Rs4,100 per 40 kg to Rs3,100. “This shows that with commitment and vigilance, we can stabilize prices and curb profiteering,” she noted.
The chief minister also commended PERA’s role in rescue and relief operations during recent floods, acknowledging the sacrifices of all departments involved. “Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to introduce a new governance model where service to the people is the ultimate mission,” she said.
CM Maryam underscored her government’s determination to eliminate artificial price hikes and profiteering. She reminded traders that while earning fair profit is their right, overcharging and exploitation will not be tolerated. PERA has been tasked with ensuring compliance with official price lists of wheat, flour, bread, and vegetables, and taking strict action against hoarders.
On law and order, the chief minister credited the establishment of the Counter-Crime Division (CCD) within Punjab Police for bringing down crime rates in many districts. She pointed out that several tehsils, once plagued by daily reports of hundreds of crimes, now record as few as two incidents. “In Sargodha, people tell me they no longer feel unsafe leaving their homes at night. This is the difference effective policing and reforms can make,” she said.
CM Maryam Nawaz pledged to make Punjab the safest province for women. “As a woman leading this province, I consider it my duty to ensure that women walk the streets without fear. Punjab will become the most secure province for women,” she affirmed.
She congratulated PERA’s officers and their families, urging them to uphold the dignity of their uniforms and remain true to their oath of service. “PERA’s young men and women are not just enforcers of law, they are guardians of justice, protectors of the weak, and symbols of good governance,” the Punjab CM said.
Special Relief Package For Students of Flood- Affected Areas
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has approved a special relief package for students hailing from flood-affected regions. Under the package, semester fee for all students from the affected areas has been waived off.
Additionally, admission fee for the first-year BS (Bachelor of Studies) students from these regions has also been exempted. This package will benefit students from Muzaffargarh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Chiniot, and Kasur, who will be granted full fee waiver for their first academic year. In a further facilitative step, registration deadline in all universities located within the flood-affected districts has been extended by 20 days, whereas deadline for applying for ‘Honhaar’ scholarship has been extended by one month.
The Punjab CM said that Punjab government’s initiative is aimed at easing financial burden on the parents of affected students along with ensuring their uninterrupted access to education. She added, “We will not allow education of our sons and daughters to be disrupted due to recent flood devastation. We are making every possible effort to provide full support to flood victims, ensure their rapid rehabilitation and compensate all their losses.”
