FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi invites opposition leaders to support efforts for South Punjab

Islamabad: Foreign Minister and Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday invited all the opposition leaders to develop a consensus and support efforts for the creation of South Punjab province.

In a series of tweets, the foreign minister said that the constitutional amendment in this regard required unity by all the political parties.

“I welcome all opposition leaders to put the longstanding desire of the people of South Punjab foremost. Together we must reach consensus on passage of a Constitutional amendment for the creation of a separate province for South Punjab,” the foreign minister said.

As a party we continue to work consistently to deliver on recognition of South Punjab as an independent province. We have instituted separate admin, structure, budgets, jobs & benefits w/ over 35% devpt budget for S Punjab & ring fencing to stop financial re-appropriation. https://t.co/M6rw7MeDFg

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) January 19, 2022

Enumerating PTI’s steps to deliver on its promise, the foreign minister said that as a party they continued to work consistently on recognition of South Punjab as a province.

“We have instituted separate admin, structure, budgets, jobs & benefits w/ over 35% devpt (development) budget for S Punjab & ring fencing to stop financial re-appropriation,” he added in a related tweet.

Through reform, he further posted that their focus was on the socio-economic uplift.

Through reform, our focus is socio-economic uplift. The South Punjab Civil Secretariat under an Additional Chief Secretary is manifest of this as is setting up district development coordination committees to improve service delivery for ease & convenience of ppl of South Punjab.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) January 19, 2022

The South Punjab Civil Secretariat under an additional chief secretary was a manifestation of this as was setting up district development coordination committees to improve service delivery for ease & convenience of people of South Punjab, he added.

I welcome all opposition leaders to put the longstanding desire of the people of South Punjab foremost. Together we must reach consensus on passage of a Constitutional amendment for the creation of a separate province for South Punjab. https://t.co/xDF2qrJMmT

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) January 19, 2022