Punjab Finance Minister Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dareshak informed the Punjab Assembly that talks are under way with the provincial finance ministers and federal finance minister for the resolution of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
While speaking on a resolution presented by MPA Sughra Imam on the NFC Award, he informed the House that President Musharraf would take a decision on the issue after receiving a unanimous report from the ministers.
Dareshak assured that the interest of the province was being guarded and watched out. The resolution was forwarded to the Finance Committee subsequently.
A resolution by Sami Ullah Khan asking the provincial government to recommend to the federal government to give instructions to banks to provide banking facilities in non-developed areas (Negative Areas) was presented in the House and approved.
On a private member's day, Bait-ul-Maal Minister Chaudhry Ijaz Shafi informed the House that out of the total funds of Bait-ul-Maal one percent has been allocated for normal medical assistance, while 3 percent was earmarked for treatment of burnt women.
To a question of MPA Muhammad Waqas, provincial Excise Minister Dr Muhammad Shafiq said that permission to sell liquor in 11 big hotels was given under the Rules of 1979 and in the consequence permits were issued to non-Muslims to buy the stuff. He said that till date 11,767 permits for buying liquor had been issued.
The excise minister said that if the members intend to bring some changes in the legislation, they should come forward.
To another question of MPA Arshad Baggo, provincial Social Welfare Minister Ashfa Riaz said that the provincial government in order to facilitate helpless people, including women, had set up an institution, 'Alflah'. The minister said that after the establishment of "Child Protection Bureau" there had been a significant decrease in the number of begging children in the province.
The minister said that a number of ventures have been undertaken in this respect by the provincial government. Dilating upon these projects, he added that District Industrial Homes (industry) was one of the important projects among these.
Last year 30,897 women were imparted training to be self-reliant, he said. At present, he said, there were 878 welfare organisations in the province. He said that if any organisation failed to submit its annual audit report, due action would be taken against it.
The House unanimously adopted a resolution in which it was urged to permit long sentence prisoners to meet spouses thrice a year.
The Bait-ul-Maal minister while opposing a resolution to increase Dowry Fund to Rs 25,000 said that this fund had already been increased to Rs 10,000. Provincial Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja informed the House that there would be a briefing on development work in South Punjab's 21 tehsils in December.
On an adjournment motion on poor state of affairs in Bahawalpur Sabzi Mandi, Agricultural Minister Muhammad Qasim Noon told the House that this problem would be settled in three months.
On an adjournment motion by MPA Nazim Shah regarding establishment of a Drug Testing Laboratory, Parliamentary health secretary said that this project would be completed in six months. Later, the House was adjourned to meet at 10:00 am on Wednesday.
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