Ujala programme comes under fire in PA

Poorly attended session was prematurely adjourned due to lack of quorum

LAHORE: The question hour session of the Punjab Assembly session started in a light mood as one PML-N legislator asked the education minister whether the government’s Ujala programme was enlightened or in the dark.

Both PML-N legislators had smiles on their faces, but arguments erupted when treasury MPA Muhammad Arshad Malik asked why the Ujala programmed was being discussed when  innocent student children were often seen cleaning the schools like sweepers. “Are we providing sweepers to the primary schools of Sahiwal?” he asked.



Minister for School Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, responding to the query, said there is need to remove “darkness” from people’s minds. He said the Punjab government had not banned recruitments of Grade-IV employees and these were continuing at the district level. He said Rs14billion had been given to schools to resolve such matters.

He assured he will take strict action if such complaints still persisted. The minister said that under the Ujala programme, they were providing solar panels to between 10,000 and 20,000 schools.



“If we have darkness in our mind, then you have to install solar panels in your head to see the light,” Malik said in response. He added that “I am giving this statement on oath that I have seen students cleaning schools.” He asked the minister to point out if any school in Sahiwal had a single sweeper receiving a salary of Rs13,000 or Rs14,000.

The minister replied it was regrettable that an MPA of the treasury was leveling charges against the government. He added Rs.150,000 was handed to each primary school.

Malik responded by saying raising loud voices would not solve the matter and that he gathered evidence after speaking to the Sahiwal commissioner and deputy commissioner who expressed their disappointment over the situation.

Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan took control of the situation which was fast heating up and ordered Malik to sit down so he may proceed further.

Responding to queries of other legislators, the minister said Punjab was the one province running without US aid, especially in the education sector. He said they received education funds from the Department for International Development (DFID) without any conditions, adding no change had been introduced in the syllabus following their wishes. He said more than 36,000 classrooms were being constructed all over the province and 39 schools were being upgraded in Cholistan.

Day off

Some women legislators of the treasury benches enthusiastically shouted “day off, day off” after a lack of quorum was highlighted and the Punjab Assembly session adjourned due to the shortage of legislators present in the house. In usual circumstances, such chants are usually heard from schoolchildren as home time nears.

Friday was the fifth day of the House’s proceedings and the speaker had to adjourn the session for four days after the government failed to show the required number of legislators. Of the other four days, the assembly was only able to complete its agenda on September 13.



Women legislators poked fun at the lack of quorum by shouting like schoolgirls celebrating the time to go home from schools. This resulted from independent opposition MPA Ahsan Riaz Fatyana’s call to attention over the matter.

At the same time, a treasury legislator had already claimed victory in the NA-120 by-elections which would be held on September 17. She was confident that the PML-N would hold a ‘jashan’ or celebration on the occasion. The House was adjourned till Monday 2pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2017.