Punjab colleges not being privatised: Sanaullah

Establishment of boards of governors in 26 colleges is not a step towards privatisation, says Punjab Law Minister.

LAHORE: The establishment of boards of governors in 26 colleges is not a step towards the privatisation of these colleges, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah stressed on Tuesday.

The minister was responding to a query raised by Opposition Leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin in the Punjab Assembly. The opposition leader had pointed to protests by students outside the assembly building on the occasion of World Teachers Day.

He voiced apprehension that the formation of boards of governors in Punjab’s colleges was the start of a process that would end with their privatisation and an increase in fees.

Mohisn Legahri of PML-Q also raised a question on the issue.

Sanaullah assured them that the government had no plan to privatise colleges and that fees would not be increased.

Sheikh Alauddin, a PML-Q (Forward Bloc) legislator, raised the issue of the security of Punjabis living in Balochistan. He said that Punjabis were being looted and murdered and demanded that the house take note of the situation.

Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal responded that the chief minister of Balochistan had already taken action on the issue. Alauddin was not satisfied, saying that the Balochistan CM was a “complete failure”.

The house passed four resolutions unanimously during this session, the 20th of this assembly. Rana Muhammad Afzal of the PML-N moved a resolution demanding that the international community lift all restrictions on export of nuclear energy technology to Pakistan and desist from discouraging the gas pipeline deal between Pakistan and Iran. The resolution said that such restrictions were unjustified as Pakistan had lost thousands of its people and some $40 billion from its economy to fight the ‘War on Terror’.  Zaheeruddin presented a resolution calling for the evolution of a consensus to start construction of Kala Bagh Dam.

Sher Ali of the PML-Q moved a resolution condemning the conviction of Dr Afia Siddiqi and demanding that the government try to get her released.

Sanaullah moved a resolution demanding that the federal government extend diplomatic help to the Kashmiri people and press India to peacefully resolve the conflict. Earlier, talking to reporters, Senior Minister Raja Riaz said that the PPP’s provincial parliamentarians had expressed confidence in the leadership of the ppp.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2010.