The cut motion was defeated and the grant approved by majority vote. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday approved demands for Rs1,146 billion grants for the upcoming financial year, turning down all six cut motions introduced by the opposition.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif joined the session for a few minutes towards the end when the House was about to vote on the demands.
The session started with discussion on a cut motion introduced on Monday against a Rs87 billion grant demanded for the Police Department. The cut motion was defeated and the grant approved by majority vote.
Earlier, Dr Murad Raas of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf criticised the government for having failed in improving the performance of the police over the years. Sardar Shahabud Din of the Pakistan Peoples Party said political interference in the affairs of the department and frequent transfers were responsible for its poor performance.
Home Minister Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada briefed the House about security arrangements for the recent tour of Zimbabwe cricket team and measures taken against terrorist outfits in the province.
He said investigations had revealed that some threatening text messages received by the Zimbabwe cricket team’s manager were linked to the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He said the sender had warned the Zimbabwean manager against continuing the cricket team’s tour in Pakistan.
He said the government had succeeded in controlling the flow of finances to terrorist outfits. “We have documented a 38 per cent decline in serious crimes in the province,” he said. He said the police had caught 77 of the 208 people wanted in the province for terrorist attacks.
He said in order to ensure merit in recruitment of officials the government had made it mandatory for applicants to sit for the National Testing Service exams. He said 5, 000 personnel had so far been hired in this manner. Among other measures he mentioned the establishment of a Special Protection Unit for security of Chinese workers employed in the province and installation of 18, 000 security cameras at 800 points.
Khanzada said the government was removing police officials from the Special Branch to transform it into an institution manned by civilians.
A cut motion against Rs8.27 billion grant for agriculture was defeated after a debate that featured nine lawmakers.
Faiza Malik of the PPP opposed suggestions for imposition of an agriculture income tax. Vickas Hasan Mokal of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid raised the issue of mismanagement of land and water resources.
Agriculture Minister Farrukh Javed rejected the opposition’s reservations and said that the province had been producing bumper wheat crops for several years. He said various reforms had recently been introduced in the department. However, the minister accepted opposition’s stance on the need to relocate sugar mills set up in the province on cotton fields. He said work in this direction would soon be started. Discussion on cut motions against grants for health services, irrigation and land reclamation and general administration was dropped by the speaker due to shortage of time. Opposition leader Mehmoodur Rasheed, however, demanded that discussion be allowed at least on the cut motion regarding the health sector grant. He led a walkout from the House on the speaker’s refusal to do so. Later, the House voted in favour of the remaining grants including Rs4.24 billion for land revenue, Rs2.34 billion for forests, Rs15.46 billion for irrigation and land reclamation, Rs63 billion for health services, Rs23.5 billion for subsidies and Rs104 billion for pensions.
The session will continue on Wednesday morning at 10am.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2015.
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