16th session of Punjab Assembly held: Urban Immovable Property Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2009 tabled

In the 16th session of the Punjab Assembly held here on Thursday, The Punjab Urban Immovable Property Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2009; The Punjab Examination Commission Bill 2010 were tabled in the House and referred to the Committees by the Speaker. Rana Muhammad Iqbal chaired the session.
In a Privilege Motion Rana Sanaullah averred that Punjab Government was not in the favour of construction of Kalabagh Dam. He said at the cost of the federation, this dam could not be built. He said PML-N and its leadership was in favour of the project but consensus need to be arrived by the provinces on construction of the dam, he dilated.
The Minister averring on the NFC Award said that leadership of the province by taking a pragmatic stance on the Award had strengthened the country. He stated in the past, the government of PML-Q signed a blank paper regarding NFC Award, saying that whatever decision was taken, it would accept it.
MPA Sajida Mir of the PPP said that those who had conducted a referendum on Pervez Musharraf should have conducted a referendum on the issue. Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly opining on the subject said that they were in the favour of Kalabagh Dam as it was vital for the economy and if somebody showed will and strength on it they would support them.
He said that Punjab had given much on the NFC Award and if this was being done, Kalabagh Dam should have been negotiated instead of dumping it. He said that water should not be wasted, by throwing it in the sea, he added. In discussion on Food, MPA Ahmed Yar Hiraj stated that despite the Province being food basket of the country, food items were cheaper in Karachi as compared to in Punjab.
Female MPA Simil Kamran in the question session on being answered to a query by MPA Sh Allaudin instead of relevant minister agitated and opposition members made a walk out. The members later on the intervention of the Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal rejoined the session.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on the issue of terrorism stated that entire nation was behind army and the subject there was no individual policy of Asif Ali Zardari, Shahbaz Sharif or Nawaz Sharif on it. The Minister applauded the role of army in operation Rahe Rast and stated that operation Rahe Nijat would too be successful. Opposition leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin speaking on the issue said that Zardari's policy was being followed on terrorism. MPA Mohsin Laghari speaking about Dera Ghazi Khan said that security forces should be strengthened there.
Rana Sanaullah answering a query by MPA Mohsin Laghari regarding seizure of trucks of explosives said that people doing the job would be given certificates and cash prizes. Minister Co-operative and Special Education Iqbal Chunnar speaking in the house on queries regarding the Ministry stated that there were 159 branches of Punjab Provincial Co-operative Banks in Punjab.
Talking about financial assistance to small farmers since 1977, he said that a total of Rs 1,01,466.986 had been given under different heads. He said that present mark up rate of the Bank varies between 13 and 16 percent. The Minister on a query by MPA Javed Asghar said that no direct recruitment had been done in the Bank since 2007. However, he told that under Deceased Employees Quota recruitment had been done.
On a query on Special Education the Minister stated that recruitment for women in the Special Education was done on open merit, however, he said five percent quota for them was also kept in consideration. He said selection in the department was done by Public Service Commission for Grade 16 to 18. For Non-Gazetted recruitment, he said it was being done by a Selection Committee. The House was adjourned for Friday later by the Chair.