Opp strongly opposes govt’s wheat policy

‘Made merely to exploit farmers, similar to sugarcane season’

LAHORE: The opposition strongly opposed the wheat policy of the provincial government and alleged that it was made merely to exploit farmers in a similar way they were targeted in sugarcane season.

The opposition grilled the treasury over its anti-farmer policies, claiming the crop of sugarcane was still in the farmers' fields and they (farmers) were moving from pillar to post, but neither sugarcane commissioners were willing to address their issues nor mill mafaia was clearing their dues.

It said that the provincial government made the similar policy for the wheat crop.

Following the reaction of the opposition, legislators and their demand to review the policy, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan fixed May 3 for the debate over wheat policy. He also directed to ensure the presence of sugarcane commissioners and food minister in the Punjab Assembly that day.

Sardar Shahabud Din Khan of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on point of order raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly. He alleged that the government wanted to exploit farmers through its policies in the similar way it did through sugarcane and wheat policies. "The government should take this issue seriously." Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Abdul Waheed Dogar, Arif Abbasi, Asif Mehmood also commented on the subject.



However, PTI's Arif Abbasi raised another concern over the closure of strike of pharmacist across the province. He claimed that patients were dying but the government was rendering a role of silent spectators.

Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Minister Khalil Tahir Khalil Sandhu replying to Abbasi said that the government's stance was very clear. The government would not allow anyone to sell substandard medicines, he said. Abbasi said: "Where the government was for the last five years if substandard medicines were being sold."

Sandhu said that the opposition should cooperate with the government over the issue.

Auqaf and Religious Affairs Minister Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that medical stores are opening and the rest would also be opened soon.

When the question answer session started, Minister Mines and Mineral Sher Ali Khan answered the questions put by legislators related to the department because minister for housing, urban development and public health engineering department did not attend the session.

PTI's Asif Mehmood put a suggestion to conduct Punjab Assembly session on WhatsApp as he thought Khan wasn't giving satisfactory answers. The opposition legislators also laughed when PPP legislator Faiza Ahmed Malik before putting a question shared some information shared by the department's official.

The speaker said no one should lase out at the leaderships. Malik said it was mentioned so what could she do.

The pandemonium started after opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed reacted over the statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in which he had said that  they needed 20 more years to rule. "Please forgive the nation. Poor people cannot tolerate the corrupt N-leaguers. Nawaz should resign from politics and rest at home."

Meanwhile, the opposition pointed out quorum as the required number of legislators from the ruling party failed to appear in the Punjab Assembly. Finally, the speaker adjourned the House till May 2, 2pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2018.