LAHORE
After mostly staying away from public view since the Feb 8 general elections, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif made a conspicuous appearance on Monday by chairing three administrative meetings of the Punjab government.
The move has raised many eyebrows since Mr Sharif holds no official position in either the provincial or federal government and is officially only a National Assembly member.
An official handout issued after the meeting said the PML-N supremo issued directions to ministers and officials regarding different infrastructure projects, including the underground train and metro bus, farmers’ plight, electric bikes for students and Ramazan relief package.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab chief minister, sat beside her father during the meetings at the Chief Minister’s Office.
Mr Sharif ordered officials to take measures to help small farmers and shield them from expensive electricity tariffs by providing solar panels to run tube-wells.
Planning and Development Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Bokhari, Food Minister Bilal Yasin, the chief secretary and finance and agriculture secretaries also attended the meeting.
In another meeting, Mr Sharif praised his daughter’s government for successfully launching the Ramazan relief programme.
The meeting decided to set up civic administration centres in three cities and grant them police powers to control price hikes.
In the third meeting, the PML-N leader ordered an increase in the number of electric bikes provided to students on low monthly instalments. He also directed the official to cut bus fares. The meeting decided to launch metro bus projects in three cities and sought a plan for an underground train in Lahore.
