LAHORE (APP) – Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Punjab Local Government (3rd Amend) Bill 2014.
According to the Bill, which was presented by the Provincial Minister for Law, Finance and Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, federal government employees could be appointed as returning officers for elections.
However, no delimitations could be made after release of election schedule. Today, the session was commenced 65 minutes behind the scheduled time with Qamar Islam Raja from panel of chairmen in the chair. During question hour session, Parliamentary Secretary for Irrigation Khalid Mehmud Jajha while replying to questions by members said, the Punjab government was spending a hefty amount on improvement of irrigation system, canal lining and rajbahs.
He said, smooth water supply to the farmers especially to tail enders was priority of the government. He told a questioner Mian Tariq Mehmud that work on 11 rajbahs in district Gujrat would be accomplished.The government, he said, had allocated Rs 33.15 billion for rebuilding of rajbahs across the province. He said, work on Khanki Barrage would be completed by end current fiscal year with a cost of Rs 23.7 billion while Rs 13 billion were being spent of Sulemanki Barrage, Rs 6 billion at Panjnand and 12 billion at Tarimu. Answering to another question, the parliamentary secretary said, law against water theft at fields was being made more strictest. Under the law, he said, Rs 15,000 fine would be imposed to a water stealer or he would get one year imprisonment. The chair kept pending two adjournment motions by Mian Fayyaz Ahmed and Tariq Mwehmud.
Responding to a member Jehangir Wattoo’s point of order regarding hooliganism by some miscreants at a vigil for formrer governor Punjab Salman Taseer at Liberty Chowk, Law Minister Mujtaba Shuja informed the House that the Chief Minister had taken notice of the incident and ordered early arrest of culprits. He said, the government was committed to protect its citizens. He said, terrorism in any shape would not be tolerated.
Faiza Malik, a PPP’s lady lawmaker on a point of order paid glowing tributes to late former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for his meritorious services, he rendered for the democracy in Pakistan.
She was of the view that the late PPP founding leader would be remembered for enlisting Pakistan in the club of nuclear power countries. A treasury member Sheikh Allaud Din suggested the the government to appoint only certificate holders and above 40 to 45 years old ulema as tutors at mosques and seminaries. The Speaker prorogued the session till sine die.
