NWFP government making efforts to bring down prices of essential items: Bilour

Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour Friday told the provincial assembly that the government was making efforts to bring the prices of essential items down. Responding to an adjournment motion of Abdul Akbar Khan of PPP regarding price hike, he said strict action was being taken against profiteers and hoarders to ensure availability of essential items at reasonable prices.
About availability of sugar, he said there was no crisis of sugar and flour in the province, saying that the people were getting these commodities without any problem. The senior minister said special arrangements were made by the NWFP government for the provision of flour and sugar to the people during the month of Ramazan and a special quota was acquired from Punjab.
The senior parliamentarian did not press his adjournment motion after getting a detailed reply from the senior minister. Meanwhile, some members staged walkout against the attitude of Provincial Minister for Education Sardar Hussein Babak. Zahir Shah, a PML-Q MPA from district Shangla, on a call attention on Thursday alleged political interference in the appointments of education staff, particularly teachers.
Sher Shah, an ANP legislator also criticised the Provincial Minister for Education over, what he called, his insulting behaviour with parliamentarians. Anwar Khan, a PPP MPA from Upper Dir, also supported the views of Zahir Shah, saying that all the parliamentarians had taken votes from their respective constituencies and were representing them like the Education Minister and therefore urged him to improve his behaviour.
Independent legislators Javed Khan Taraka and Fazalullah, and PML-Q MPA from Chitral Ghulam Mohammad and Wajihuzzaman also wanted to speak on the issue, but the chair did not allow them to speak. The legislators staged walk out. In response to the complaints of MPAs, Sardar Babak said if any appointments were made in violation of rules it should be brought before the house.
He said MPAs should stop levelling accusations against him and called for initiating training for parliamentarians so as to educate them about their job and stop them from making wrong demands. Babak maintained that all appointments and transfers were made in a transparent manner and according to the rules and therefore the criticism by lawmakers was baseless.