Pre-budget discussion: Opp walks out over finance minister’s absence

Deputy speaker says new Assembly building to be ready by next year.

LAHORE: The second session of the pre-budget discussion was held on Monday despite the opposition staging a walkout on account of the finance minister’s absence from the House.

The Assembly also passed a resolution saying that the parliament could regulate matters pertaining to the accurate publication of federal and provincial laws. While voting on the resolution, MPAs who were for it were asked to stand up.

Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, the only opposition member seated at the time of the voting, was asked by MPAs in the treasury benches to stand and vote in favour of the resolution. He said bulldozing of the House was not acceptable.He said that lawmakers should be informed about these resolutionsbefore they were tabled and moved in the House for voting. MPA Sardar Shahabud Din demanded to know why a minister with a portfolio other than law had moved the resolution. His objection was turned down by Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani.

As the pre-budget discussion commenced, Faiza Malik asked who would record the suggestions and arguments put forward by lawmakers in the absence of the finance minister.  Gorchani said in the minister’s absence, Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khali Tahir Sindhu would take notes. Sardar Shahabud Din said that Sindhuhad not been attentive during the session. In protest, the Opposition staged a walkout.

Pointing out the quorum, Dr Waseem Akhtar expressed reservations over the absence of the finance minister and saidthat the district finance committee award should be announced soon as that would help hitherto neglectedareas. He also called for a mid-term review of budgets passed by the Assembly.

Kanji Raam said there was a need to allocate seats for minorities in professional colleges. He said that the government should set aside a quota for minorities in the Yellow Cab Scheme.  Zulfiqar Ghauri demanded an increase in funds for minorities. He said the Sindh government had employedaround 2,000 Christians and Hindus to providesecurity at churches and temples. “ThePunjab government could take similar steps to provide security to these worship places.” Ghauri said that lawmakers could also be involved in the initiative.

Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Muhammad Arshad said the government was focusing on education and health. He said it was also providing subsidies to farmers. Of the 46 sugar mills, he said,41 had completed 95 per cent payment to sugarcane growers.

Baoo Akhtar said that his constituency did not have a safe drinking water supply. He said funds for the maintenance of Shalamar Gardens and the development of areas along GT Road could be reallocated. He also asked the government to expedite work on the Garhi Shahu Chowk along the lines of Azadi Chowk.

Dr Farzana Nazeer asked for greater allocation for security and a raise in salaries for doctors in the public health sector.She also asked for a salary raisefor MPAs. Gorchani replied that the matter was under consideration and that lawmakers should expect“good news”.

Sheikh Alauddin called for reform of the tax collection system. He said that the Punjab Revenue Authority was only reaching out to people already in the tax net. He said hotels and restaurants were stealing billions from taxes they owed.

The deputy speaker told the House that the CM had promised to allocate funds for the under-construction new Assembly building. He saidthe lawmakers wouldmove to the new building next year. He said the project required Rs100 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, March  31^st,  2015.