Budget debate marred by MPAs’ disinterest

Lack of interest by PML-N lawmakers was witnessed during the general discussion on the annual budget in the Punjab Assembly session held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Sunday.

Many members were seen gossiping and making phone calls while paying little attention to the speeches of their colleagues.

PPP MPA Mumtaz Ali Chang from Rahim Yar Khan demanded that Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz provide clean drinking water, education, health and other necessities of live at the doorsteps to the people of his constituency. “Is it their fault that they do not belong to Lahore? We want to enjoy the life in same manner as the Lahoris are enjoying, we need similar facilities as those bestowed to the Lahoris,” he maintained.

PML-N’s Bushra Anjum Butt criticised the previous government headed by the PTI for paying no attention to the issue of bonded labor.

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She said the PML-N had not only freed children from the brick kiln owners’ custody but also got them admitted to schools. She stressed that the government continue the project for the best future of the children.

The previous government did not pay attention to the issue and left the children to their fate, she said.

She said the PML-N would strengthen the PTI’s education project for the transgender community. She said the PTI had utilised its energy to foil PML-N’s projects but the PML-N would not do this in the interest of the humanity. Panel of Chairmen Khalil Tahir Sindhu said the PML-N had recovered 66,000 children from the custody of brick kiln owners and sent them to schools.

On the second day of the discussion, the lawmakers underlined loopholes and drew government’s attention towards different sectors, which, according to them, need more attention.

They accused the previous government of having done nothing to provide relief to the poor. The lawmakers urged the government to establish schools and universities in their areas and expand the scope of development schemes.

They stressed that the government should prioritise the agriculture sector that had been neglected by the previous regime.

The members unanimously passed a resolution presented by PML-N’s Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, condemning an attack on a gurdwara in Afghanistan. The house demanded that the federal government ensure complete protection of the Sikh community through the Afghan government.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2022.