Opposition comes hard on govt over flour crisis

Political opponents raise questions over performance of food department

LAHORE: The opposition came down hard on the government during a Punjab Assembly session over the recent flour crisis. The political opponents raised several questions over the performance of the food department, claiming now the people are being deprived of flour.

During general discussion on price control on Friday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) former minister for food Bilal Yasin said the government was not ready to accept that the wheat crisis exists in the country. “If there is no wheat crisis in the country then why is the government importing wheat and why has the prime minister constituted a committee to probe the crisis?” he asked.

“We served the country for five years but the current situation disturbs us very much,” the former food minister remarked. “We also exported wheat during our tenure but never imported the same just after three months.”

He argued that the price of sugar also increased by Rs25 to Rs30 in last three months and the government did not try to control the rates.

There is not even a single photograph of any meeting with the sugar mills association because the sugar mafia is very strong and it does not give any importance to ministers, claimed Yasin.

Earlier, the session of PA was chaired by Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari who directed to hold a general discussion on Kashmir issue, price control and law and order. Speaking on the occasion, former federal minister Sardar Awais Leghari said that the rulers have to bear criticism of the public, in a real democracy, and they must resolve their issues amicably.

Speaking on the governance of the province, Leghari claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has miserably failed to deliver. “The governor is himself claiming that the whole power rests with the chief secretary and inspector general of police (IGP) in the province.”

Leghari asked, “Why did the prime minister authorise the IGP and CS instead of the CM when this House elects the CM and power lies with him?”

Harsh words were also exchanged between Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and PML-N MPA Arshad Malik as both hurled personal attacks on each other while using foul language.

Meanwhile, a high-level committee constituted, by the deputy speaker, held negotiations with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader Syed Hassan Murtaza who was holding a hunger strike at the stairs of PA for the last two days.