LAHORE: The opposition benches in Punjab Assembly urged the government to address the problems faced by the farmers as they are desperate for not getting the reward for their labour.
During the general discussion on agriculture and food in the Punjab Assembly on Friday, former speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan said that the farmers are very upset and feel cheated for not receiving the price for their produce. "They are buying expensive electricity. When they receive the electricity bill, they go into shock. To add insult to injury, despite the government claims, the farmers are not getting the official rate of wheat," he added.
Moreover, the PML-N legislator drew the House's attention towards expensive bank loans for farmers by saying that the banks are charging them 17 percent mark-up which is naked manipulation which needs to be addressed at the earliest. "The government should make serious efforts to reduce the mark-up and address other issues facing them," he added.
Later, Syed Hassan Murtaza pumped up the treasury benchers by using objectionable words which were expunged by Chairman of the House Mian Shafi Mohammad. His speech on agriculture turned the House into a tumultuous affair. The treasury benchers interrupted the PPP parliamentary leader and complained that he was giving a political speech. In retaliation, Murtaza straightened his guns towards Prime Minister Imran Khan and his children and used objectionable words which created commotion in the House.
Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat reacted strongly on the words used by the PPP bencher. He said that Murtaza is a respected member of the House, but it is wrong to use foul language against the Prime Minister. "Who is the Prime Minister begging for? He is begging for the nation. Anyone who speaks against our leadership will be answered in the same language," he added.
On his request, the Chairman expunged the objectionable words from the House's proceeding. Later, the opposition benchers led by Murtaza walked out of the House in protest. Meanwhile, Murtaza in his speech highlighted the plight of wheat growers by saying that they were not getting the wheat support price that the government had announced and added that growing of wheat is no longer feasible for the farmers, which has forced many of them to cultivate other crops. "Pakistan that exported wheat has now become wheat importing country," he added.
Summing up the general debate in the absence of opposition, Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial assured the House that the government will provide all facilities to the farmers. "We are introducing new projects for wheat, seeds, pesticides and sugarcane".
On the occasion, the government tabled The Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Amendment Bill 2020 in the House which was referred to the relevant Standing Committee. After the completion of agenda, the House was adjourned till July 20.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
Comments
Comments are closed.