Speaker questions inaction over resolution

Provincial Assembly called for fixing wheat rate at Rs2,000 per 40kg

LAHORE:

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has expressed frustration over non-implementation of a unanimous decision of the House to fix the support price of wheat at Rs2,000 per 40kg.

A special committee of the assembly, headed by the speaker, had prepared recommendations for the development of agriculture in the province and prosperity of farmers. In the light of the recommendations, a resolution was passed unanimously by the assembly, calling for fixing the price of wheat at Rs2,000 per maund. The government was asked to implement the decision and inform the House.

During a discussion in the assembly on Tuesday by treasury and opposition members, Speaker Pervaiz Elahi said the entire House stood up and decided about the price of wheat but it has not been implemented in Punjab, while Sindh had fixed the official price of wheat at Rs2,000.

The said the situation would result in a reduction in wheat cultivation in Punjab as compared to Sindh. Farmers of Punjab are facing problems and dying on the streets. Provincial Agriculture Minister Hussain Jahanian Gardezi said the resolution of Punjab Assembly was sent to the federal authorities but by then the federal government had announced the price at Rs1,650.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Basharat Raja assured the speaker that the unanimous resolution of the House regarding the subsidy on wheat would be taken up by the provincial cabinet. He said the speaker would be informed of the decision on the issue. The law minister had a heated argument with opposition member Samiullah Khan on issue of who should head the Public Accounts Committee of the assembly. The minister was of the view that someone facing National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) action should not head the committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2020.