Finance Bill amendment sails through PA

Opposition protests, walks out of the house.

LAHORE:

The provincial assembly on Friday passed the Punjab Finance (Amendment) Bill 2014 amidst a walk out by the opposition before the speaker prorogued the session indefinitely.

The law minister introduced the bill and moved the house to consider it for passage immediately.

The opposition protested against the move and walked out of the house till the approval of the bill which aims to postpone enforcement of amendments in the provisions of the Punjab Immovable Property Tax Act 1958 and Punjab Finance Act 1972.

Under the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly, regular agenda should be put aside for the consideration the Finance (Amendment) Bill 2014 but the house took up questions and adjournment motions after a motion was tabled to continue with the orders of the day.

The parliamentary secretary for Services and General administration Department responded to 10 of the 33 starred questions, while members asked 22 supplementary questions. A question was deferred on the request of the members asking it, seven were disposed of and the rest were not taken up. The speaker prorogued the session for an indefinite period.

The CM was also present at the session. He gave a briefing of the energy policy of the government.

Earlier on Thursday, the Punjab Shops and Establishments (amendment) Bill 2013, which makes it mandatory for employer to have a day care center at workplaces, was also passed.

Some other amendments like provisions for enhancement of fiscal penalties, change in head of receipts, registration fee and empowerment of labour courts established under the Punjab Industrial Relations Act 2010 as appellate authority, were been incorporated in the draft bill.

According to clause 10-A of the bill, a workplace where 25 or more women are employed must have a suitable day care room for children under the age of six.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2014.