Govt has respected people’s mandate: Pasha

Opposition benches chant slogans during finance minister’s speech

LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, presenting a supplementary budget of Rs.85.4billion, claimed the provincial government was respecting the public mandate by not revealing an outlay for the first six months of the upcoming financial year. She said this was despite the fact that the constitution allowed them to do so.

There was pandemonium between the treasury and opposition benches before the finance minister’s speech when Opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed wanted to speak on a point of order. However, speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan called on the name of finance minister to present the supplementary budget instead.

Iqbal allowed Rasheed to speak after he protested. The opposition leader pointed out that he was allowed to speak on a point of order under the rules, but the speaker gave the rostrum to the finance minister instead, which was against the norm.  When he spoke, Rasheed slammed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for some of his recent comments. He added Sharif was speaking the words of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Meanwhile, the speaker again called the name of the finance minister who took the rostrum amid the chants of the opposition benches.

In her speech, finance minister Pasha made it clear that the government maintained the right to present a budget for the first six months of the coming fiscal year under the constitution. However, she added the current regime chose to respect the public mandate. She said Article 125 of the Constitution allowed the provincial government to present budgets which put the onus of their projects on the shoulders of future governments.



She said international publications, well-reputed consultants and other institutions had declared Punjab as an exemplary province due to its performance in education, health, agriculture, land record management, social protection, infrastructure and rural uplift.

She said villages were not ignored during the government’s drive to bring improvement to the cities. Aisha added authorities had kept the promises made to the nation to ensure merit, justice and rule of law. “The government’s focus was to deliver exceptional services, equality and transparency. The number of children in schools had increased, while numerous hospitals were constructed.

“The present government increased provincial tax collection by 345% since 2008. More than 200 projects (interventions) were launched, while several steps were taken to improve the justice system by setting up model and anti-terrorism courts.



The food authority worked harder for the provision of [good] standard food to the people.” She claimed the government also contributed to other provinces and helped them along the journey of development and progress. The minister pointed out that the present government also formed the ‘Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital’ in Swat which was a gift for the K-P government.

The opposition legislators continued chanting slogans against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, saying he was an ally of Indian premiere Modi. To this, the treasury replied with their own slogans, calling the members of the opposing bench “jhootay” or liars.

The opposition came nearer to the chair of the speaker and continued chanting slogans. As the finance minister finished her speech, Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan adjourned the house will Tuesday at 10am. Proceedings started at 5:11 pm despite a scheduled time was of 3pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2018.