LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has refused to give Rs 80 crore for installing lights in Lahore during the eighth edition of Pakistan Super League 2023.
This is noteworthy because eight matches of PSL are scheduled in Lahore and in the meeting presided over by caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the district administration in Lahore, especially on the route where PSL teams are expected to travel. , proposed to install big lights. .
In the previous PSL edition (2022), sources said the Punjab government had spent Rs 60 crore for the purpose, but this time Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has released Rs 80 crore to install lights in the provincial capital. flatly refused to order.
A meeting chaired by Mohsin Naqvi was held on Monday to review the arrangements and security of the PSL teams, which was attended by senior officials including IGP, Commissioner.
During the meeting, the issue related to security of the team was mainly discussed and sources said that Punjab government officials had come up with a proposal to install big lights at different places in the city, which according to them, was their request. was PCB
However, the Chief Minister did not agree to the proposal and refused to pay the money to the Punjab government.
Earlier in the day, the caretaker chief minister in a press conference had vowed to address price hike and other public grievances on a priority basis, as per his mandated constitutional powers.
According to an official close to the Chief Minister’s constituency, the province is also facing economic challenges and it is not appropriate to spend such a large amount of money only on the installation of lights.
According to sources, PCB still owes Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC). JEE News contacted Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Najam Sethi, who said that the PCB had not made any such request to the Punjab government. He said it was the responsibility of the state to ensure the safety of the visiting teams as well as the people. He claimed that it was the PCB that had earlier paid security to the Punjab government, and the present IGP had done a commendable job in this regard by playing a key role in the security of the team. Three top officials of both Punjab and Sindh, including their current Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries and IGPs, have unusually worked with the PCB on PSL arrangements. Apart from this, Najam praised the Interior Ministry and security agencies for their cooperation on matters related to PSL.
