Treasury MPAs point out neglected sectors

Ruling coalition hold budget debate sans opposition

LAHORE:

While praising the provincial annual budget, members from the treasury benches in Punjab Assembly on Saturday also urged the government to increase funding for several sectors, especially for their constituencies.

Panel of Chairpersons member from the PML-N, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, presided over the session attended by the ruling parties at Aiwan-e-Iqbal.

As the proceedings commenced, he called the name of the opposition leader for speaking on the budget.

Owing to his absence, the chair adjourned the house for 15 minutes to wait for him, but in vain as the opposition is holding its own session at the Punjab Assembly building.

After the general discussion kicked off in presence of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, lawmakers from the PML-N, PPP and Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party drew government’s attention towards public issues with a request to enhance funds for them to make the budget more viable.

Rah-e-Haq Party’s Muhammad Moavia said, “history will never forgive the opposition over its conduct to derail the democracy”. He said a person who created chaos and used derogatory language was applauded in the PTI.

He said the around 32 million youth aged from 15 to 29 years should be engaged in online businesses to increase revenue.

He said higher education should be covered by initiatives like Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) and education budget should be increased.

He stressed the need for concrete measures to preserve rainwater and plants for recycling water at a massive scale.

He all called for efforts for producing electricity from canals, coverage of OPD treatment by the Health Card and reforms in the agriculture sector.

PML-N’s Mehwish Sultana demanded fine on those illegally using underground water resources without paring aquifer charges and stopping installation of plants for the purpose. She also called for more efforts to improve the road infrastructure.

PML-N’s Seikh Allauddin demanded an audit of a cricket league.

PML-N’s Ramesh Singh Arora demanded that the Afghan government protect the Sikh community and condemned an attack on a gurdwara in Afghanistan. He also condemned derogatory language used by some PTI workers on Facebook.

The chief minister’s protocol staff also entered the hall along with him but went out on his instruction.

The day’s session started after a delay of over one and a half hour after the scheduled time.

As the entered Aiwan-e-Iqbal to attend the session, lawmakers stood up in his honour but did not chant slogans.

Meanwhile, the Panel of Chairpersons constituted a committee to look into media persons’ protest against the conduct of Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Warning to officials

In another development, Punjab Assembly’s acting secretary Amir Habib ordered the assembly secretariat’s legislation, reporting and security wings along with the estate office to report to him at his office at Aiwan-e-Iqbal.

“Strict action shall be taken in case of non-compliance,” he warned.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2022.