Awami National Party (ANP) in Sindh Assembly on Wednesday asked its coalition partners Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for an explanation on a big disparity in the prices of essential food items, like flour, in the provinces.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) quit the chairmanship of Standing Committees in protest of not being given the "promised" representation in Sindh Coal Authority Board (SCAB). The provincial legislature, during a private member's day at Assembly Building with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in the chair, also paid rich tributes to Saint Poet of Sindh Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai on his 365th death anniversary by adopting a unanimous resolution.
On a point of order ANP leader Amanullah Khan Mehsood expressed his concern over a big difference in the prices of flour in Sindh and Punjab provinces despite being parts of the same country.
Seeking an explanation from the provincial food and agriculture ministers, the ANP leader said rates for one kilogram "atta" stood at Rs 32 in the poverty-stricken Sindh province, while same quantity of the essential kitchen item was being sold at a meagre price of Rs 17 in Punjab.
Responding to Mehsood's statement, Food Minister Mir Nadir Magsi cited shortage of wheat and seal of Sindh-Punjab border to prevent wheat smuggling as are two major reasons for "fluctuation" in flour prices. Confirming ANP's concern on rate disparity, the food minister said Sindh's seasonal wheat production stood at 0.35 million tonnes, while demand in the province of 3.75 million.
Soon after the session was resumed Abdul Razzak Rahimoo took the floor on a point of order and announced the resignations of Ram Singh Sodho and Mohammad Ali Malkani who were chairing the newly-reconstituted Standing Committees for Youth Affairs and Sports and Public Health Engineering, respectively.
The opposition member said his party had taken the decision after the government's failure to fulfil its commitment of giving the opposition, often described by the treasury members as a so-called or brother opposition, representation in SCAB.
It is pertinent to mention that PPP-dominated Sindh Assembly in its February 9th sitting had nominated Sharjeel Memon, Nawab Taimur Talpur, Mir Haji Hayat Talpur and Partap Singh from treasury benches as members of SCAB.
Treasury members Farheen Mughal and Rasheeda Panwar expressing grave concern over the tragic death of Maria Shah, a lady health worker from District Shikarpur who succumbed to her injuries caused by acid-throwing on Wednesday, demanded their government's measures to prevent the recurrence of such inhuman incidents. Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza deploring violence against the innocent girl told the house that the culprits were under arrest and would be treated as per law.
Fisheries Minister Zahid Ali Bhargari said his government in collaboration with federal government was searching for the 11 missing fishermen, who were likely to fall victim to the clutches of Indian Navy for so-called sea border violation. He said his government was in contact with poor families of the lost fish hunters in Baldia Town and Baba Island and would distribute checks among them tomorrow (Friday).
During question hour Minister for Industries Mohammad Abdul Rauf Siddiqui responded to various supplementary queries of the members. Minutes before the chair called it a day, the climate turned tense when Irrigation Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah lashed out at Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali for "untimely" raising the question of Kalabagh Dam.
Terming it a "dead horse", the PPP leader categorically rejected any possibility that could make construction of the disputed water reservoir a success story. "Let me make it very clear that Kalabagh Dam can never be built until PPP remains in the corridors of power," Shah said. The chair was quickly adjourn after smelling the chance for a strong verbal face off, as Shah's statement, that he said was under Rule 215 barring comments from the house, had brought Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Masroor Jatoi and Jam Madad Ali on their feet.
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