Lahore, May 15 (TNS): As much as 117 such prisoners have been released from different jails after paying of their fines and diyat. An amount of Rs.2.47 crore has been paid as fine by the Baitul Maal and other welfare organizations and 26 prisoners will be released on 21 Ramzan after the payment of fine worth Rs.2.39 crore which will be paid by the Qarshi Foundation. Rs.19.77 lakh has been paid by Pakistan Baitul Maal for the release of 21 prisoners while Rs.19.77 lakh has been paid by different organizations for the release of 19 prisoners. Similarly, Sarwar Foundation has paid Rs.12.73 lakh for the release of 32 prisoners and Qarshi Foundation has paid Rs.2,14,51000 for the release of 45 prisoners.
On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, benevolent fund grants for the Punjab government employees have been increased and a notification has been issued by S&GAD department in this regard. According to details, scholarships for the children of Punjab government employees have been enhanced. Rs.20 thousand stipend will be given for primary to secondary school students per annum and the students of higher secondary schools will be given Rs.50 thousand educational scholarship every year. Similarly, more than three times increase has been made in the marriage grant of government employees’ children. The amount of marriage grant has been increased from Rs.40 thousand and Rs.50 thousand to Rs.150 thousand for provincial employees. The funeral grant has also been enhanced in case of death. In case of death of a government employee, the heirs will be given Rs.50 thousand funeral grant. Meanwhile, the monthly grant of widow of government employee has been increased from Rs.5 thousand, Rs.9 thousand and Rs.12 thousand to Rs.10 thousand, Rs.15 thousand and Rs.20 thousand. The widow of government employee will be given monthly grant for life. The new rates of benevolent fund grants will be applicable from May 10 while increase in marriage and funeral grant will be implemented after May 10.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed to expedite the pending dues of advertisements of media houses and newspapers and directed to constitute a high-level committee for the payment of pending dues. The committee comprising of provincial ministers of law, information, finance departments and other officials will submit its recommendations within three days. The Chief Minister has also sought the details of pending cases and added that immediate steps will be taken by adopting a comprehensive strategy for the payment of dues. The media bodies should also be taken into confidence with regard to payment of dues, he added.
In this regard, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting at his office here on Wednesday in which matters pertaining to the payment of dues came under discussion. Information Minister Sumsam Bukhari, Spokesman to CM, Secretary Information, DGPR, representatives of Finance Department and others attended the meeting.
