LAHORE - Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has announced to regularise the service of all contractual employees working in various departments of the government. Approval to the affect of regularising the services of about 150000 contractual appointees was taken here Tuesday at a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister, who was earlier recommended for regularising services on only those employees on the job over the last three years or over that period by the CM stressed on the regularising without discrimination, which the meeting approved. He told this to the mediamen while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Au Khan Khosa and Member National Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Asif were also present on the occasion. Shahbaz Sharif said more than 1.5 lakh employees of the government, majority of which are teachers, would benefit from the decision. The employees, who have been made regular, will avail all those privileges including pension and group insurance, benevolent fund and loans as are admissible to the regular employees of the government, he said. The CM said the regularisation of contract employees would promote a sense of job security among them, and they would also be spared the agony of renewal of their contract after every five years. These employees will also have opportunity of promotion, which was earlier denied to them, he said, while adding that he had always believed in dignity of teachers and their employment on contract basis did not commensurate with their respect. Majority of employees, whose services have been made regular, are teachers, he mentioned. While congratulating the contract employees on their regularisation, the CM expressed the hope that they would perform their duties with honesty and hardwork. The Pakistan Muslim League government has shown its commitment to the welfare of the common man and now it is the responsibility of the employees to dedicate themselves to the prosperity of the country, he added. Replying to a question, the CM said the merit policy was being fully implemented in the province and in addition to 34000 teachers, all recruitments in the police department had been made purely on merit. The merit was violated in the past. However, due to humanitarian considerations, more than 1.5 lakh employees recruited on contract basis have not been rendered jobless, as it would have affected 1.5 lakh families. Therefore, the government has taken the decision to make them regular, he said. Replying to a question about recruitment through the Punjab Public Service Commission, the CM said the Commission was overburdened with recruitments due to which this process was not being completed expeditiously. Therefore, he said, a transparent system is being evolved for speedy completion of recruitment process in various departments and the candidates will not have to wait for years. While replying to another question, Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government was ensuring sale of sugar in the province at Rs 40 per kg and had to take some stringent measures including lifting of sugar from such sugar mills as were not cooperating. The government is presently owner as well as buyer of sugar simultaneously and is purchasing sugar for supplying it in the market. Due to effective measures taken by the government, the supply of sugar at the fixed rates is gradually improving, he said, while thanking all those sugar mill owners, who had cooperated while sugar was taken out from the mills which were not cooperating and supplying sugar to the markets. To a question about the National Finance Commission, he said that the joys and sorrows of all provinces were common and they had to share the national resources. About the Kerry-Lugar Bill, he said the stance of PML-N on the Bill was clear and Prime Minister himself announced that consensus would be developed in the National Assembly on this issue. America is a developed country, and Pakistan needs its technology as well as enhancement of trade, he added. To a question about the by-elections, Shahbaz Sharif said the PML-N was not afraid of the by-elections and it approached the Lahore High Court for the postponement of by-elections due to security concern. The recent incidents of terrorism have proved that apprehensions of the PML-N are well founded. People are the best judge and will vote for PML-N due to its services, he added. Expressing his sorrow over the unpleasant incident at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, the CM said that journalists community was an important segment of the society and was playing an important role with regard to providing guidance to the people. He has sought report about the incident and wanted to apologise if it had hurt any ones feelings, he said.